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RECITATION 



POEMS, 



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For Sabbath Schools, Mission Bands, Etc. 



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POEMS FOR CHILDREN'S DAY. 
POEMS FOR EASTER TIME. 

POEMS FOR HARVEST HOMES. 

POEMS FOR CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS. 
POEMS FOR MISSIONARY CONCERTS. 
POEMS FOR BANDS OF HOPE. 




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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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©(tap, i oj ^ t ' ifl^ t !f c. 

'Shelf_J^L 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



RECITATION POEMS 



ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR 



Sabbath Schools, Mission Bands, Con- 
certs, Easter, Children's Day, 
Harvest Homes, Christ- 
mas Festivals, &c. 



/ 

BY l/' 



HANNAH MORE KOHAUS. 









b 



" God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound 
the things that are mighty. — 1st Cor. 1:27. 




FLEMING 



CHICAGO: NEW YORK : 

148 and 150 Madison Street. I 12 Bible House, Astor Placi 

Publisher of Evangelical Literature. 









Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by 

FLEMING H. REVELL, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

All Rights Reserved. 



PREFACE. 



A realization of the necessity for a work of this 
kind has prompted its preparation and publication. 
Studious care has been taken to make the recitations 
short, not to overtax the memory of the child ; also a 
conscientious effort to embody in each, simplified, some 
truth, or spiritual thought which may imbed itself in 
the productive mind of a child ; germinating, budding,, 
blossoming and bearing righteous fruit. 

THE AUTHOR. 

Chicago, January, 1889. 



Note.— Appropriate costumes may be used, also suitable gestures 
and attitudes, according to the discretion of teachers. 



CONTENTS 



EASTER BUDS. 

PAGE 

Waking to Life 9 

Easter Reverie . . . . . . • 10 

Who Stole My Lord ? 12 

Easter Day 13 

The Angels' Message . . . ■ . . . 14 

On Easter Morn 15 

All Hail! 17 

What the Angels Said 18 



A FLORAL CLUSTER. 



The Mission of the Flowers 

Children's Day 

The Beatitudes .... 

Something Sweeter 

Something Stronger 

The Fullness of His Presence 

The Children Rebuked by a Cloud 

Inasmuch .... 

The Plea of the Rose 

The Language of the Flowers 



J 9 

20 
21 

22 

23 
24 

25 
26 

27 
28 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 



Harvest Crown ........ 30 

Sow Beside All Waters . .- . . . 31 

Brotherhood ........ 32 



6 CONTENTS. 

The Gleaners ........ 34 

Only a Mite , . . . ' . . . ,36 

Fruit ......... 36 

Service for Christ ....... 37 

Ruth . . .38 

Reap and Gather . ... . . . * 39 

The King's Daughters ...... 40 

A Seed That Will Harvest a Generation . . 42 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 

The Birthday of Christ 44 

Prepare the Way ' 45 

The Star 46 

Christmas Bells ........ 47 

Christ's Pilgrimage ...... 48 

True Fame . 49 

Merry Christmas ....... 50 

Little Snow - Flake 50 

The Evergreen Wreath . . . . . . 51 

The Child Angel 53 

The Reward of the Good, or Santa Claus' Agent. 59 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 

Our Offerings ........ 66 

How to Get Rich . . . ... .67 

A True Incident . . . . . . . 69 

What Are You Doing for Christ? . . . 71 

Greeting . . . . . . . . 72 

Little Tot 73 

God Is Love 74 

After Many Days 74 

The Isles of the Sea 75 

The Morning Light 76 

The Golden Stair * 77 



CONTENTS. 7 

Watchman, What of the Night ? .... 79 

Christ's Little Messengers 79 

The Little Missionary's Dream . . . .81 

How to Praise God's Name 82 

Africa 84 

The Pearl 85 

Micronesia ......... 86 

How to Make a Missionary ..... 87 

The Golden Belt .88 

The "I Can't's" and the "I'll Try's" . . 89 

From Sorrow to Joy ....... 92 

Build Me a Home 94 

What Missionaries Have Done for Turkey and China 95 

God's Collecting Agent ...... 96 

A Little Sermon ....... 97 

Encouragement ....... 99 

Let Us Work 100 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

The Golden Gate 101 

How Beautiful !........ 103 

Our Salvation Army ...... 104 

Ye Gave Me No Kiss 105 

Found ! — a Gem 107 

Fields 108 

Walk with God 109 

Knocking at the Door . . . . . .110 

Field of Gold . . . . . . . .111 

Our Little Gifts 112 

The Sun and the Star . . . . . .113 

God Knows Best 114 

Acorns . . . . . . . . .115 

The Living Water . . . . . . -115 

Earth's Sacred Jewels . . . . . .116 

Love's Service . . . . . . . . 117 



8 CONTENTS. 

Our Silver Chain 118 

Jesus' Nature . . . . . . . .120 

The Sabbath School 121 

Jesus Said, "Who Touched Me?" . . .122 

The Voice of Jesus 123 

Self-Denial 124 

A New Text 125 

Stand for Jesus . . . . . . .126 

Missing from Christ's Kingdom .... 127 

The Army of the Two D.'s ..... 130 

Gather Up the Crumbs . ..... 131 

Earth Waking Her Children .... 132 

Don't Hurry . . . . . . . . 133 

Hidden Angels 134 

A Tribute to [any Christian Organization] . -136 

At Any Cost 137 

My Bethel 138 



SWEET MELODIES. 

At the Tomb 140 

Calvary's Mission . . . . . . . 141 

The Sabbath ........ 142 

Life's Autumn ........ 142 

The Christ Child 143 



EASTER BUDS 



WAKING TO LIFE. 

From a lowly, rusty bed, 

A crocus feebly raised its head, 

And I'm sure I heard it say, 

" Who is it that's risen to-day?" 

A lily of the valley white, 

With its head but just in sight, 

Heard I in a sweet voice say, 
" Who is it that's risen to-day?" 

Farther on a stream in glee 
Burst from icy fetters free ; 

Rippling sweet, I heard it say, 
"Who is it that's risen to-day?" 

Then a tiny blade of grass, 

I essayed to heedless pass, 
Raised itself to softly say, 

" W T ho is it that's risen to-day ? " 

Little birds with sweetest notes 

Swelling from their feathery throats, 

Calling to each other, say, 

" Who is it that's. risen to-day?" 



10 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Then a child with hands clasped soft, 
Eyes raised earnestly aloft, 

Sweetly to them all did say, 

u Christ the Lord is risen to-day! " 



EASTER REVERIE. 

A great light shone upon the earth ; 
Its pure, effulgent, hallowed birth 
Sprang from Light's fountain head and shone 
Like rays that beam from God's white throne ; 
Yet, gazing past its radiant sheen, 
The shadow of a cross was seen. 
Men gazed upon its brightness with strange awe, 
And marveled much at what they felt and saw ; 
Assumed it oft the mildness of a dove, 
Whose eyes o'erflow like rivers with deep love : 
Again a form majestic, regal, grand, 
Born but to rule and homage to command ; 
Yet whose fair countenance bore marked im- 
press 
Of soulful beauty born of holiness, 
And concentrated, without blemish, there, 
The sweetness of a thousand souls laid bare ; 
His lips, like lilies, drop sweet smelling myrrh 
Of pure and holy thoughts ; His chaste words 

were 
Like strings of rarest pearls, and chains of gold 
The truths that one by one His lips unfold. 

Then up sprang Envy's baleful flame, 
Uncalled for malice, scornful blame, 



EASTER BUDS. 11 

Within the erring hearts of men, 

Inflaming them to hatred; then 

They sought to quench the kindly light 

By mortal power and human might. 

Now were its beams a few short hours subdued. 

As like a lamb He stood and silent viewed 

The real cross the shadow had forecast ; 

Upon His locks the drops of night fall fast ; 

His forehead pale is wet with crimson dew ; 

His lips, like scarlet threads, to palest hue 

Are blanched with agony of wounded love ; 

Yet not a hand or finger did He move 

To stay the cup that to His lips was pressed 

With bitter, ignominious, cruel jest. 

Now darkness wrapped the world around, 
An earthquake shook and rocked the ground, 
Creation groaned, graves opened wide, 
Waves lashed to fury, ships divide, 
Asunder rent the holy veil ; 
Men's strong hearts quake and women wail, 
As in the tomb, dark as the night, 
They sought to hide the eternal Light. 
But could the grave enfold it? No, no, no! 
It burst its prison bars with one bright glow 
And forth it came a radiant, dazzling beam, 
Enflooding earth and heaven with endless 

stream. 
Now with white radiance, then a glowing flood, 
As if perchance its rays had dipped in blood. 
All nations' hands outstretch its warmth to feel, 
And unseen angels in its presence kneel ; 
Dead nature resurrects beneath its rays, 



12 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

The sleeping birds awake to sing its praise, 
White lilies bloom in beauty to adorn 
Its head so lately pierced with thorn, 
Soft breezes on their hidden wings do bear 
A fragrance scented as with voiceless prayer; 
Those hearts that loved it much Rabboni ! cry, 
And bask beneath it with sweet, restful sigh — 
O Love ! O Truth ! O Light adored ! 
Our All-in-all, our risen Lord ! 



WHO STOLE MY LORD? 

Some-one stole my Lord away 

In the dark, dark night ! 
Not a glimpse of Him I found 

In the morning light. 

How my heart with grief was torn, 

As I wept and wept, 
That I had not prayerfully 

Better vigil kept. 

When I searched him who had robbed 

My heart-tomb within, 
Shudderingly I found it was 

Crafty, hideous sin. 

But I asked him when it was 

In my heart he crept. 
" Oh ! " said he maliciously, 

" It was while you slept ! " 



EASTER BUDS. 13 

Ah ! he'll ne'er repeat that theft, 

For I'll watch and pray 
That no evil one again 

Steals my Lord away. 



EASTER DAY. 

This of all days is the day 
We should roll the stones away ; 
Stones of sinfulness and doubt, 
So the Saviour may shine out. 

Swift the angels will descend, 
And a helping hand will lend ; 
Help you roll them back and stay ; 
Seated there in bright array. 

Jesus' radiant countenance, 
Will your soul's delight enhance ; 
And His raiment, white as snow, 
Over every blemish throw. 

To the opened sepulchre, 
Bring, instead of odorous myrrh, 
Good resolves and penitence, 
Deeds of love, for frankincense. 

Haste to roll the stones away, 
And with contrite spirit say, 
"In this opened heart of mine, 
Christ the Lord shall rise and shine." 



14 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 



THE ANGELS' MESSAGE. 

Go, tell the disciples 
Jesus hath arisen, 
Even as He told them, 
Out of death's dark prison ; 
Rocks could not enfold Him, 
Stones could not debar ; 
Stoop down and behold you 
Death's gate stands ajar. 

'Twas not earthly fingers 
Did the linen fold, 
Not by human effort 
Was the great stone rolled; 
Angel hands from heaven 
Pushed it far away 
Just as Night's dark curtain 
Lifted was by Day. 

Cease thy needless weeping, 
Haste thee now away; 
Run, tell the disciples 
This is the third day ; 
Seek ye not the living 
Here among the dead ; 
Jesus Christ hath risen, 
Even as He said ; 

Shines upon your darkness 
With translucent ray, 
Having solved the problem 
Of death's mystery ; 



EASTER BUDS. 15 



Risen all triumphant, 
Gained the victory 
O'er the grave's dark shadow,- 
Man's last enemy. 



ON EASTER MORN. 

A sweet, pale, broken-stemmed lily, 
Grace, in her brother's hand placed, 
That he, on his couch reclining, 
Might have of glad Easter a taste ; 
So long he had lain there and suffered 
In the grasp of pain's unrelaxed might, 
'Twas hard to say which was now paler, 
The boy or the lily snow-white : 
But each was a type of the other, 
A bud nipped in youth by decay, 
And waiting in patient submission 
To be borne by the angels away. 
Sick Willie was made very happy, 
Though 'twas but a perishing flower, 
Exhaling a faint, sweet fragrance 
In its bruised and dying hour ; 
So Gracie sits down by his bedside, 
And talks with unwonted glee, — 
For the day was the restful Sabbath, 
And from daily toil she is free 
To lavish the wealth of affection 
Her heart to her brother had given, 
That barred with her love, if it could be, 
His entrance e'en into God's heaven, — 



16 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

He was all that she had in the wide world 

To love, and love her in return ; 

No wonder in jealous devotion 

Her heart for her darling would yearn ! 

So she sat in the mellow sunshine 

And talked to him hour after hour, 

And, among other things, she told him 

How it was she had brought him the flower; 

For they had no money for dainties, 

Had scarcely enough food to eat, 

And e'en in the bitter winter 

Went shoeless, sometimes, in the street ; 

Their frequent guest was Destitution, 

They were children of Poverty's own, 

And lived away up in an attic, 

The brother and sister alone. 

Said Grace : " Very early this morning, 

While you, Willie dear, was asleep, 

I ran to the church round the corner 

To take at the flowers a peep ; 

As I said, it was still very early, 

They had not even rung the first bell, 

And the people in there were just carrying 

More roses than I can tell, — 

Ferns, smilax, carnations and lilies, 

And flowers to me quite unknown, 

Which they heaped high round the pulpit, 

Till it looked like a regal throne, 

Or maybe I should say an altar ; 

No matter, they covered it o'er 

With the 'beautiful blooms, and meanwhile 

This fell close by me on the floor ; 

So I asked them if I might have it ; 



EASTER BUDS. 17 

They answered, ' Yes ; now run away ! ' 

And you may be sure, brother Willie, 

I scampered with little delay." 

When Gracie the last word had uttered, 

Her hand on her brother's she placed ; 

'Twas cold as a stone, and his dark eyes 

Were staring wide open and glazed. 

She felt if his heart was still beating ; 

Ah, no ! it was pulseless and stilled, — 

The tomb she had guarded. was empty, 

Her heart with new agony filled ; 

As the young, broken life and the lily 

Together in beauty there lay, 

The chime of a bell began ringing, 

" Rejoice ! He is risen to-day ! " 

Grace ceased from her bitter weeping 

To list to the comforting hymn, 

And a voice whispered, " Yes, He has risen, 

And taken thy brother with Him ! " 



ALL HAIL! 

All hail this day ! Our voice should raise 
A hymn of joyous, happy praise 
To greet the resurrection morn, — 
The day when Christ anew was born. 

Spring's sweetest flowers are early blown, 
The sun its sqft, warm rays have thrown ; 
The hills and vales are tinted green, 
The wild primroses bloom between ; 



18 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

The crystal brook leaps wild with play, 
The fount cast showers of silvery spray ; 
The birds pour forth a thrilling song 
In endless praise the whole day long ;— 

All in its honor. Hail ! hail all ! 
Behold the Christ ! Before Him fall ! 
Haste, tho' thine eyes with joy are dim, 
Embrace His feet and worship Him ! 



WHAT THE ANGELS SAID. 

He goeth before you, all the way, 

Not only to Galilee, 
But over life's cloudless path by day 

And over night's billowy sea ! 

Over the desert of burning hate, 
Through the valley contumely ; 

Under the shadow of Olivet, 

Through the garden Gethsemane. 

Over the mountain where stands the cross, 

Down into the dismal tomb ; 
He goeth before you all the way 

Robbing each step of gloom. 

Up to the gateway of paradise, 

There your dear Lord you will see ; 

Lo, I have told you ; He is waiting now 
In the heavenly Galilee. 



19 



A FLORAL CLUSTER 

(FOR children's DAY.) 



THE MISSION OF THE FLOWERS. 

God made a tiny flow'ret, 
As pure and white as snow, 
And said, " This modest lily 
Must in the valley grow, 
And send forth sweetest fragrance 
With meekly drooping head, 
And teach the world humility 
From out its lowly bed." 

And then He made a red rose, 
With lovely, blushing face, 
And said, " To you, my fair one, 
I'll give a higher place ; 
But you must teach a lesson 
Upon your little mound, 
By breathing love and perfume 
Upon the world around." 

And thus they grew in beauty 
Not many rods apart, 
While each fulfilled its mission 
With glad and willing heart ; 



20 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

And when the frost of Autumn came, 
And chilled their hearts with fear, 
God laid them gently down to rest 
Upon a snow-white bier. 



CHILDREN'S DAY. 

Brightest day of all the summer ! 

Would that it had come to stay, 
With its wealth of blooming fragrance, 

Children's happy, floral day ! 

Here are brought the hills and valleys' 

Richest treasures to array 
God's pure temple and make holy 

Children's joyous, floral day! 

Truly, Jesus must be happy, 
As He views this rare display; 

He will bless you for remembering 
Children's happy, floral day ! 

Would the hours were not so fleeting, 
Swift the flowers to decay ; 

But sweet memory will be keeping 
Children's joyous, floral day ! 

Scent of leaves, moss, ferns and roses, 

All along life's future way, 
Will recall a sweet remembrance 

Of the children's flower day. 



CHILDREN'S DAT. 21 



THE BEATITUDES. 

[The reciter holds a bouquet of flowers in the hand and 
points to those designated.] 

God has given to me a garden 

Full of flowers rare ; 
In among them stroll I daily, 

Culling here and there. 

VIOLET. 

This one is the poor in spirit, 

Unto whom is given 
Entrance into life immortal 

Through the gates of heaven. 

IMMORTELLE, OR ANY DARK FLOWER. 

Here is one cast down with mourning, 

Heavy heart and sad ; 
But the Comforter is hastening 

And will make it glad. 

DAISY. 

Here is lowly, blessed meekness, 

Earth's inheritor, 
Dwells in peace among the roses 

Or the prickly burr. 

ROSE. 

Here is one that thirsts and hungers 

After righteousness ; 
Filled it shall be, running over, 

With Christ's blessedness. 



22 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 



This one is in heart the purest 

Growing from the sod ; 
Having also this rich promise, 

" It shall see its God." 

Peacemakers are this bright cluster, 
Soothing troubled blame, 

Called the children of the Highest, 
Holy, envied name! 

A PRETTY WEED. 

This is oft reviled, ill treated, 
Trampled root and stem ; 

But our Father for His kingdom 
Soon will perfect them. 

Many more are there, for only 
Down one path I've trod ; 

But ere this you know my garden 
Is the "Word of God." 



SOMETHING SWEETER. 

[For three little girls dressed in white.] 

FIRST GIRL. 

The lily of the valley in 

Its shady, cool retreat, 
Is pure and beautiful, but I 

Know something still more sweet. 



CHILDREN'S DAT. 23 

SECOND GIRL. 

The tuberose in its waxen robe 

Is passing fair and neat, 
With fragrant odor too, but I 

Know something still more sweet. 

THIRD GIRL. 

The milk-white snowdrop, Autumn's gem, 

For her rich crown is meet. 
And fair as summer flower, but I 

Know something still more sweet. 

ALL. 

It is a group of little girls 

Who sit at Jesus' feet, 
And learn of Him the way to live — 

That's something far more sweet. 



SOMETHING STRONGER. 

[Companion to " Something Sweeter.'' By three small 
boys.] 

FIRST BOY. 

The massive oak, whose roots strike deep, 
And branches reach out long, 

Is very wonderful, but I 

Know something still more strong. 

SECOND BOY. 

The wind that comes with cyclone strength, 
And shrieks a mad, wild song, 

Is powerful in its might, but I 

Know something still more strong. 



24 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

THIRD BOY. 

The lion-king will terrify 

The brave, the old, the young, 

With his fierce giant strength, but I 
Know something still more strong. 

ALL. 

It is a band of little boys 

Who strive to conquer wrong 

In Jesus' name; and that, we know, 
Is something still more strong. 



THE FULLNESS OF HIS PRESENCE. 

I think, as I gaze on this beautiful scene, 

That Jesus must be very near, 
And eagerly catching each word and each song, 

As it falls on His listening ear. 

His far-seeing eyes must be glancing about, 

And searching with diligent care, 
The hearts of these children, to see if indeed 

His name is in truth written there. 

He loves little children ! has given them this day 

To be altogether their own, — 
A type of that glorious Sabbath when we 

Shall assemble around His great throne ; 

Shall crown Him the King of all Kings ever- 
more ; 
Shall, worshipping, kneel at His feet; — 



CHILDREN'S DAT. 25 

And again He will place His dear hands on our 
heads, 
And bless us with thrilling words sweet. 

Moreover, I think, as I gaze on this scene, 
That heaven's a place much like this, 

Except that, instead of the Presence we feel, 
We'll see Jesus just as He is. 



THE CHILDREN REBUKED BY A 
CLOUD. 

And so you think I am unkind . 
To pour down as I've done? 
Well, really now, I never meant 
To spoil your pretty fun ! 

My little body was so full, 
I could not keep it in ; 
Although I tried my very best, 
It burst right through my skin. 

I see you are impatient, too, 
Because I stopped your play ; 
Which of you was it that exclaimed 
" Old rain, rain, go away ! " 

But stop! reflect what good I've done, 
For one of my small size, — 
Have not I laid the gritty dust 
The wind blew in your eyes? 



26 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

With fresh, cool water bathed the grass 
That's underneath your feet? 
And tell me now, if you before 
Smelt flowers half so sweet? 

I've given the vegetables a lift, 
Fresh vigor to the trees, 
I've helped to ripen luscious fruit 
And cooled the sultry breeze ; 

Ah ! now I see you hang your heads 
You're penitent, I .know ; 
Since that is all I'm waiting for, 
I'll say "good-by" and go. 



INASMUCH. 

Our Lord is the Vine in the garden of God, — 
The tender young branches are we; 

Those who have thus labored for. us in His 
name, 
Said Jesus, " Have done it to me." 

Those guiding our footsteps in flower-bordered 
paths 

Of rectitude, virtue, and truth, 
Are training the branches to cling to the Vine 

In the trying temptations of youth. 

No service in life you can render the Vine, 
Comes nearer its warm, loving heart, 



CHILDREN'S DAT. 27 

Than leading the tendrils upon it to lean, 
For strength, from life's earliest start. 

Then store our young minds with the fruit of 
His love, 

Fresh vigor in us to recruit ; 
And when to maturity grown every branch, 

Will yield Him abundance of fruit. 



THE PLEA OF THE ROSE. 

Oh! did I hurt you, little one? 

I meant not so to do ; 

I wish that all might handle me 

As tenderly as you ; 

But God, my child, gave me this thorn 

My beauty to protect, 

For some are ever treating me 

With rudeness or neglect. 

Nor do they heed how hard they press 

My tender, velvet leaves ; 

They tear me up and leave me to 

The mercy of the breeze ; 

I know 'tis sharp as Kitty's claws, 

And hid like them from sight ; 

But that's the only way, you know, 

I can assert my right. 

Supposing I should grow my thorn 
In the center of the rose, 



28 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

You could not my sweet breath inhale 
Unless you pricked your nose! 
So it is better where it is, — 
Though grieved it gives pain — 
And I'll be very careful it 
Shall not hurt you again. 



THE LANGUAGE OF THE FLOWERS. 

The flowers have a language, 
With speech they are endowed, 

Although no one has ever 
Heard any speak aloud. 

'Tis mostly in soft whispers 

Their secrets they impart, 
And when they teach us lessons 

They talk right to the heart. 

They tell us who has made them, 

And do their best to show 
That no one but the Father 

Could make such flowers grow. 

They teach us to be holy, 

Pure, from the depths within ; — 

Who ever knew a flower 
To commit a sin? 

They teach us to be humble, 

Although they're robed and leaved, 

In garments more resplendent 
Than artists have conceived. 



CHILDREN'S DAT. 29 

They tell us to be patient, 

By actions' loudest word ; — 
Who ever heard a lily 

Utter an unkind word? 

The snap-dragon, or cactus 

With its thousand prickly thorn, 

Was never known to quarrel 

With a flower since it was born ! 

They teach us, life should scatter, 
With every breath we breathe, 

The richest perfume, and each hour 
With flower-like deeds enwreathe. 

The language of the flowers 
Speaks not in words but deeds ; 

E'en when they breathe no longer, 
They're dropping flower seed. 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 



HARVEST CROWN. 

She's here again, our Autumn Queen, 
With flush of rose and amberine ; 
All nature's hues compose her gown, 
Enwreathed her head with harvest crown. 

She brings with her a royal train, 
Of ripened fruit and golden grain ; 
Of mountain-ash with berries bright, 
And clustered snow-drops milky white. 

The rustling leaves beneath our tread, 
Those slowly fading overhead, 
She paints with marvelous brilliant power,- 
A symbol of life's dying hour. 

Her hazy, yellow-gleaming morn 
Awaken thoughts all. newly born, 
Her evenings' sunset, crimson glow, 
Unlocks sweet memory's "long ago." 

Her dying leaf and flower and seed, 
Unravel life's mysterious creed ; 
They drop to earth, assume decay, 
And in the spring new life display. 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 31 

A type of earnest life is she, 

And type of immortality ; 

Life's task achieved, we lay it down, 

And take from God our Harvest Crown. 



SOW BESIDE ALL WATERS. 

The fields are white with the harvest, 

And Jesus, in accents kind, 
Asks, " Who will work in my vineyard, 

Who will sow and reap and bind ? 

Who'll sow in the early morning 
Here and there a handful of seed, 

To be nurtured with prayerful watching, 
And garnered with never a seed ? 

Who'll reap, in the glaring noontide, 
From the highways and dens of vice ? 

Who'll pluck the brands from the burning, 
For whom I have paid the price ? 

Who will list to the loud appealing 
From brothers o'er sea and land, 

Who with outstretched arms are pleading, 
Oh, send us a helping hand ; 

The harvest here is so plenteous, 

The reapers so very few; 
Come up to the help of the mighty 

The master hath need of you ? 



32 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Who'll bind in the mellow twilight, 

By guiding the aged dear 
To walk in the Saviour's footsteps, 

You think you can almost hear, 

As the night descends in darkness, 
And you enter the home of the blest, 

From the day's weary heat and burden, 
To be forever at rest. 

There Jesus will stand awaiting 
This welcome on you to bestow; 

" Oh, blessed are ye, my children, 
Who do by all waters sow." 



BROTHERHOOD. 

Love will work no ill to neighbor, 

But will do him good ; 
God will know His true disciples 

By their brotherhood. 

Now, look at the white fields yonder, 
See the grain so ripe to reap ; 

Then say if you're going to help them, 
Or to fold your hands and sleep. 

There are children by the thousand 
That have never heard God's name, 

On the street or round the hearth-stone, 
Save in cursing or blaspheme. 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 33 

His dear name, the gentle Jesus 
Who loved children, oh, so much ! 

Ever waiting but to bless them 
With divine and loving touch. 

His kind heart in tender pity 
For his lambs is yearning still, 

And their souls are in our keeping ; — 
Shall we save, or shall we kill ? 

Like a Cain we may not slay them, 
But with thoughtless, cold neglect; 

Is this true, my Christian hearers, 
Stop a moment and reflect. 

If God asks you for your brother, 
At His judgment bar some day, 

Will you say, " I'm not his keeper," 
Hide your face and turn away? 

If you do, the rocks and mountains 
Will not shield you from his wrath ; 

For He is a God of justice, 

Though He tender mercies hath. 

'Tis a sad and gloomy picture 

Drawn with heavy heart and bowed ; 

But, thank God ! the silver lining's 
Just behind the darkened cloud. 

You who have been blessed with plenty, 
Homes of love and Christian grace ; 

Can, with generous heart consenting, 
Swiftly this sad scene erase. 



34 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

All the cloud may be one splendor, 
Radiating floods of light, 

If our love for one another 

Is but measured in God's sight. 



THE GLEANERS. 

[For five small girls, one being older than the rest as 
Teacher.] 

TEACHER. 

What have you gleaned for the Master dear, 
Wandering abroad o'er His fields this year? 

FIRST GIRL, WITH APRON FULL OF WHEAT. 

Ripe, golden grain from the harvest I've 

brought, 
Into bread for His children it soon will be 

wrought ; 
Giving food to the hungry and strength to the 

faint, 
Silencing poverty's dismal complaint. 

TEACHER. 

And what did you graciously, readily bring 
To the Master to-day for an offering? 

SECOND GIRL, WITH A QUANTITY OF FLOWERS. 

Flowers, the sweetest, the rarest that's blown ; 
So lovely the angels the seed might have sown ; 
I've gleaned them to take to the sick room, so 

drear, 
Where Jesus has many dear children, I hear. 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 35 

TEACHER. 

And what have you brought ? I fear 'tis quite 

small, 
You hide it so nicely away from us all ! 

THIRD GIRL, WHO HAS BEEN SMILINGLY HOLDING HER 
HANDS BEHIND HER, NOW EXTENDS THEM, SHOW- 
ING PENNIES. 

Not so, Teacher dear, for here you can see 
The gold and the silver that's all His to be ! 
I've earned all this money with tired hands 

and feet, 
To bring to my Master a sacrifice sweet. 

TEACHER. 

And you little [supply name], the tiniest of all, 
What tithe have you brought in reply to the call ? 

FOURTH GIRL, HOLDING BY THE HAND A POORLY CLAD 
CHILD; MAKE A STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN 
THEM. 

Only this stranger, 'twas all I could find ; 
Will He be satisfied? Will He not mind, 
I've brought Him so little? He knows I'm but 

four, 
Too little to glean for Him anything more. 

TEACHER, TAKING THE CHILD'S HAND. 

No, No ! little darling ; you've gleaned far the 

best, — 
Although there's no fault to be found with the 

rest ; 
But the richest of gleaning from God's harvest 

land 
Is the soul of a child from another child's hand. 



36 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

ONLY A MITE. 

[For a girl of six or seven years, profusely covered with 
Autumn leaves, vines, etc.] 

I'm not to be left outside in the cold, 
When there's something to bring to the Har- 
vest fold ; 
I've been just as busy as two little bees 
And pilfered from ever-so-many big trees. 

SCATTERING LEAVES ALL AROUND HER. 

I'll lay here a carpet of red, gold and green, 
The prettiest pattern that ever was seen ; 
And here is a vine on the pulpit to lay 
And plenty of leaves to make a bouquet. 
My offering is only a mite, that I know, 
But to get them I had to reach high and bend 

low, 
So please don't expect very much from poor me, 
For I'm only a mite in myself, you can see. 



FRUIT. 

[For a small boy.] 

ASSUMING AN ATTITUDE OF PERPLEXED THOUGHT. 

When I hear Christians talk of fruit, 
I cast my eyes down on my boot 
And I think and think and think, 
My eyes keeping pace with a wink, 
All trying to find the true link 
Between an immense apple tree 
And a youngster no bigger than me. 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 37 

SCRATCHING HIS HEAD FOR A THOUGHT. 

Now trees bear fruit, and boys bear — oh ! 

Now I have it ! now I know ! 

Apples can be sour or sweet, 

Green as grass or red as a beet, 

Good for men or pigs to eat; 

Ripe or rotten, mellow or hard, 

Pleasing, or keeping one always on guard. 

So this must really be, I think, 

The secret of the apple link ; 

Children can be cross or mild, 

Sour as crabs and quickly riled, 

Or with selfishness be " spiled" (spoiled), 

Or generous, noble, kind and sweet, 

Like fruit that's good enough to eat. 



SERVICE FOR CHRIST. 

O, would I could earn from the Master 

The rest for which we all sigh ; 

That undisturbed rest to be given 

In the land of the " Sweet by and by." 

I'd work till my hands were outwearied, 

I'd pray the unceasing prayer, 

I'd conquer the spirit of evil; 

For the kingdom I do and dare ! 

Would that I could earn from the Master 
The reward of His "well done" smile; 
That smile of approval and gladness, 
To be ours in the "after-awhile "; 



38 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

I'd labor from morning till evening 
With footsteps that never would tire, 
For every pure, Christian-like virtue, 
My soul would in earnest aspire. 

O, would I could earn from the Master, 

At however costly a sum, 

The crown that is promised the faithful, 

And bestowed in the "Quickly I come"; 

That crown all enstarred with rare jewels, 

Whose lustre ne'er fadeth away, 

But crowneth a soul that shines brighter 

Than the light of a perfect day. 



RUTH. 



A gentle maid with lowly mien 
In harvest fields went out to glean ; 
In sweet humility she thought 
" I will be satisfied with aught. 

I'll wait until the gleaner's done, 
Then I will slowly follow on, 
And one by one as each one leaves 
I'll gather up neglected sheaves." 

With happy smile and head bent low, 
Softly she followed to and fro ; 
Meanwhile the Master rich and kind 
Was watching her not far behind. 

He bade the gleaners drop more grain, 
Until there lay a golden train ; 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 39 

And all the ground was richly spread 
Along the path where she would tread. 

Her arms were amply filled with food, 
Her heart with joyous gratitude ; 
Just then she heard the Master call, 
And found he loved her more than all. 

Along life's pathway, here and there, 
Are sheaves neglected, needing care ; 
And there must be some maids like Ruth, 
Or they'll be lost, in very truth. 

Then do not mind to follow on 
And glean as she did, one by one, 
Neglected sheaves, for, seeking such, 
Our God will love us very much. 



REAP AND GATHER. 

The Saviour's heart is yearning 

With true compassion deep 

For all His wandering children 

Who are in sin asleep ; 

He prays His faithful followers 

Their labors to renew, 

To reap and glean and gather 

The many, not the few. 

The path that leads to glory 
You have in love been taught ; 
From ways of death and darkness 
To life and light been brought ; 



40 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

You have received so freely 
Of love and power and light, 
Extend your hand in mercy 
And rescue with your might. 

Go to the work with gladness 
And count it joy to do 
With willing heart and purpose 
What God requires of you ; 
Call sinners to repentance, 
His kingdom is at hand, 
Prepare their souls to meet Him 
And in His presence stand. 



THE KING'S DAUGHTERS. 

Where shall we find them ? In the old marble 

halls, 
Where ancestors beam from the tapestried walls ? 
Are their hands snowy-white, hid with jewels 

well nigh, 
Their cheeks a shell-tint, their brows lofty and 

high? 
Is it in cloth of gold they will richly attire 
And for worldly renown they will ever aspire? 
Where on the earth shall we search? In what 

quarters 
Will we find, if we seek them, the King's lovely 

daughters ? 

They are wandering in halls as old as the earth ; 
Their lineage is noble, and noble their birth ; 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 41 

Their features are graven on the old walls of 

Time, 
Their memory enshrined in the heart as sublime ; 
Their hands are the whitest, for they've never 

been 
Polluted and stained by the blackness of sin ; 
Their cheeks have a beauty the shells will out- 
shine ; 
To tint them pure love and devotion combine ; 
Their foreheads are lofty with deep, sacred 

thought, 
Their raiment of purity cannot be bought ; 
Their footsteps are plodciing, both tireless and 

fleet, 
To stay the impetuous, unwary feet, 
Of those who have left fair, green pastures 

within, 
To pluck bitter weeds in the garden of sin ; 
In the hovels where sickness and poverty meet, 
'Tis there you will find them in lowliest seat, 
Dispensing sweet words of comfort and cheer, 
Dispelling the gloom and brightening the drear; 
They do whatsoever they can with their might, 
And go wheresoever they're called, day or night ; 
Considerate of others, unselfish, not vain, 
Doing and giving with no thought of gain; 
The words from their lips are like diamond and 

pearl, 
Emerald, ruby, agate and beryl; 
Their garments exhale, as they trail on the 

ground, 
A perfume whose fragrance all odors will 

drown ; 



42 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

They seek not for fame, they desire no re- 
nown ; — 

Yet they will obtain from the Master a crown. 

In seed time and harvest, beside all needy 
waters, 

You'll find, if you seek them, "The King's 
lovely Daughters." 



A SEED THAT WILL HARVEST A 
GENERATION. 

Between the leaves of the great Book, is there 
a text teeming with more fruitful promise of 
immeasurable results than this, " Train up a 
child in the way he should go, and when he is 
old he will not depart from it; " re-enforced by, 
"As the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined " ? 

Could the tender, watchful care and training 
we see so lavishly bestowed on flowers, birds, 
and other household idols, be expended upon 
children now being reared neglectfully in homes 
of ignorance, pinched poverty and vice, what 
a wonderfully different aspect would the future 
present! The present outlook would speedily 
become transformed into one fraught with 
hopefulness and exhilarating encouragement. 

Imagine an extensive garden filled to reple- 
tion with perpetually blooming flowers, each 
enfolding a priceless and imperishable jewel. 
With what anxious solicitude would they be 
pruned and guarded ; with what jealous care 



HARVEST HOME SHEAVES. 43 

gathered and garnered ! How eagerly would 
the storehouse be filled and the invaluable gems 
enumerated ! 

Thus should appear to our mental vision the 
vast harvest-fields found in all cities, towns and 
villages, white with uncared-for children, many 
of whom have exquisite abilities, their earnest 
faces and sparkling eyes appealing with intense 
desire for the luscious fruit of knowledge, al- 
most within the reach of their outstretched 
hands ; their fertile, receptive intellects grasp- 
ing at every slender branch of instruction, their 
eager appetite for learning awakening vigorous 
inspiration in the instructors. 

An absorbing, teachable spirit dwells instinc- 
tively in the heart of almost every child, which 
should be instigated and directed from infancy 
into channels of industry, truthfulness, honesty, 
self-respect, nobility of character and righteous- 
ness. This done, a seed dropped from a flower 
developed and cultivated in this Christian fer- 
tility, would account for a generation, bearing 
fruit meet for eternity. 

" Bring in all the tithes," saith the Master, 
"My storehouse will multitudes screen ; 
Bring ripened fruit and the golden grain, 
With the flowers that blossom between." 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS 



THE BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST. 

Early on the Christmas morn, 
Night her veil had just withdrawn ; 
Angels chanted loud and clear, 
" Wake ! awake ! the Lord is near ! " 

Now the wise men's weary feet, 
Hastened on with step more fleet, 
As the voices swelled their lay, 
" Christ the Lord is born to-day." 

With their eyes fixed on the star 
Onward gazed the men afar ; 
Sweet the angels sang again, 
" Peace on earth, good will to men.' 

Now the wise men's footsteps stay, 
Angels hush their chanting lay ; 
Joy and adoration blend, 
As above the stall they bend. 

Think you, in the infant wail, 
Heard they echo of the nail 
Driven in His tender form ? 
Did they think for that He's born? 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 45 

Nay! the halo round His head 
Fixed their steadfast gaze instead ; 
Not alone for death and shame, 
Ridicule and scorn and blame ; 

But as royal Prince of Peace, 
Medium of sin's release ; 
To be glorified He came, 
And to glorify God's name. 



PREPARE THE WAY. 

Bring evergreen and cedar bough, 

Fresh gathered from the mountain brow ; 

Bring holly branch and berries red 

To strew upon the path He'll tread; 

He's sure to come in by and bye, 

Unseen, perchance, by mortal eye, 

But if we'll listen, as we pray, 

We'll hear His sweet voice softly say, 

"Lo, Jesus comes your soul to save, 

To overcome death and the grave ; 

To cheer your hearts and calm your fears, 

To give you blessings, wipe your tears ; 

To rescue all from sin and strife 

To purchase you eternal life. 

'Tis well you greet my natal day 
With emblems green in bright display ; 
I'm glad my footsteps hither came, 
I'm glad to meet here, poor and lame, 



46 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

These little ones, the aged too, 

Whom you have bid to share with you 

This festival of joy and mirth, 

You have prepared to greet my birth : 

For this you've done for me in love, 

I'll share with you my home above." 

And then so silently He'll go, 

He'll leave no footprint on the snow, 

But on our hearts He'll leave a trace 

Of His sweet peace and loving grace. 



THE STAR. 

The world was wrapped in darkest night, 
Men groped about in search of light ; 
And feeling oft like one that's blind, 
They sought a glimpse of light to find. 

And while they sought with mind intense, 
The darkness seemed to grow more dense 
When, sudden, in the heavens afar, 
Appeared a brilliant, trembling star. 

It threw such light upon the earth, 
The planet seemed to have new birth ; 
It shone on mountain, vale and brook, 
And penetrated every nook. 

It drove men from their sinful lair, 
They could not brook its steady glare ; 
But gave to timid souls a sense 
Of safety, rest and peace intense. 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 47 

And it was warmth as well as light, 

It brought much cheer and stayed much blight ; 

It gave us food and raiment too, 

And fell upon the earth like dew. 

Sweet flowers sprang up to greet its birth, 
A rainbow spanned the wondering earth ; 
The angels sang with mighty voice, 
" There's light on earth, let all rejoice ; 
This is the star of Bethlehem ! " 
And earth replied, Amen ! Amen ! 



CHRISTMAS BELLS. 

The earth is robed in garments white, 
And hearts are singing with delight 
To greet the Christmas morn ; 
This is the day of all the year, 
Because it brings such goodly cheer, 
This day when Christ was born. 

Let all the bells ring merrily 

To greet its advent cheerily, 

This merry Christmas day ; 

May open hands and hearts be found 

To scatter brightness all around, 

In one effulgent ray. 

Let's hasten to the hungry poor, 
To drive the wolf from off the door, 
That they may merry be ; 



48 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Let's scatter blessings far and near, 
To every hearthstone bring some cheer, 
That Jesus Christ may see. 

We hail the day with joyous heart, 

We bid the world with us take part, 

And celebrate His birth. 

So ring, sweet bells, your silvery song, 

Commemorating all day long, 

The gladdest day on earth. 



CHRIST'S PILGRIMAGE. 

God's messengers bore to earth one day 
A spirit divine, enrobed in clay, 
To be mankind's redeemer for aye, 
And the angels called Him Jesus. 

A babe in a manger cradle lay, 
His bed lined only with sweet, clean hay, 
But round his head shone a kingly ray, 
And the wise men called Him Holy. 

A man walked forth on the busy street, 
Shod with the gospel of love his feet, 
Mercy-deeds dropping and thrilling words sweet, 
And the children called Him Father. 

A soul was cruelly nailed to a cross, — 
A heavenly gain but an earthly loss ; 
As death was tinged with a radiant gloss, 
And the people called Him Saviour. 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 49 

The heavens opened its own to recall ; 
The spirit then breathing a blessing on all, 
Re-entered with joy the celestial hall, 
And Jehovah called Him " Beloved." 



TRUE FAME. 

The question comes home to us now and then, 
Have we love enough for our fellow men? 
Do our hearts rebound with an eager throb 
But to enrich them, never to rob? 

'Tis not with meaningless words we love, 

But with deeds that speak and actions that 

prove ; 
Then love with a flame like consuming fire, 
Burning all bitterness, envy, ire. 

Love till you shatter the stoniest heart, 
Till the frozen tear-drops melt and start ; 
Till the wayward wanderers you reclaim, 
Changing to beauty their rags of shame. 

Love till you break every barrier down, 
And the ghost of remembrance, too, you drown 
Till the children greet you with joyous cry, 
And the poor " God bless you" as you pass by. 

Love till the feeling's akin to pain, 

A tenderness that you cannot restrain ; 

Then the angel, recording, will write your name 

On the page with Ben Adhem's of deathless fame. 



50 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

Welcome ! merry Christmas morn, 
• Happy day when Christ was born ; 
When I bend my knee to pray, 
I will thank God for this day. 

What a precious Christmas gift, 
From the mother's knee they lift, 
When the wise men from afar, 
Found Him by the guiding star. 

" Christmas gift ! " He says to all 
Who are listening to His call, 
"What have you to give to me? 
I will give my life for thee." 

But He's 'way up in the sky, 
And we cannot reach so high ; 
So we'll give His children dear, 
Gifts, for they are ever near. 



LITTLE SNOW-FLAKE. 

Little snow-flake, soft and white, 
Drops down in the silent night ; 
Soft she came with steady poise, 
Making not a bit of noise ; 
Gently falling on the earth, 
To be present at the birth 
Of the Christ-child, and adorn, 
With her beauty, Christmas morn. 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 51 

Sure, no fitter emblem there 
With the Saviour to compare. 
Perfect, holy, pure is He, 
Doing good so noiselessly ; 
Leaving paradise above, 
To redeem us by His love. 



THE EVERGREEN WREATH. 

[For ten children, five boys and five girls, profusely decked 
with evergreen in any tasteful manner.] 

APPROACH THE PLATFORM IN COUPLES, BOY AND GIRL; 
FORM A CIRCLE, BOY AND GIRL ALTERNATELY; 
WALK AROUND SINGING CHORUS TO TUNE "A 
ROSY CROWN." 

To Sabbath school we love to go, 
In warm or wintry weather; 
We trip along o'er grass or snow 
Hand joined in hand together: 
O'er the snow to Sabbath school we all are going,. 

Gladly, joyous, happy, 

Gladly, joyous, happy 
To our school we love, we love to go. 

BREAK CIRCLE IN ONE PLACE; STAND IN ROW. 
BOYS ASK, IN UNISON: 

Why do we love the Sabbath school ? 

GIRLS REPLY, IN UNISON: 

This is why we love to go, 
It is a taste of heaven below ; 
A sacred, undisturbed retreat, 
Where followers of the Saviour meet ; 



52 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

The vestibule where we prepare 
Our souls the home of Christ to share : 
On earth there is no place so sweet, 
For there the Saviour we shall meet, 
As to our teacher's side we press 
To learn the way of righteousness. 

join hands; walk around in circle as before, 
singing chorus; after which stand in line 
as before. girls, in concert: 

What do we learn in Sabbath school? 

BOYS, in concert: 

We learn to give our hearts in youth 
To earnest purpose, God and truth ; 
We learn that charity and love 
Which pleases best our God above ; 
We learn to walk in paths of peace, 
W r here strife and all dissensions cease ; 
We learn to read that, holy Word 
The wise and good have all preferred ; 
But more than all, from sin we're driven 
Into the way direct to heaven, 
Where Jesus, our Redeemer, stands 
To welcome us with outstretched hands. 

ALL, IN UNISON: 

Who is this Christ of whom we speak? 

He is God's greatest gift to men, 
Was born this day in Bethlehem ; 
The angels heralded His birth 
Far over all the sleeping earth ; 
A being in whom God combined 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 53 

Divinity and humankind , 

His life and death with suffering rife 

Our entrance to eternal life. 

To learn all this while here below, 

To Sabbath school we gladly go. 

REPEAT CHORUS; AFTER WHICH LEAVE PLATFORM 
TWO BY TWO. 



THE CHILD ANGEL. 

A little old fellow was peering about, — 

He dressed rather shabby, but looked well and 

stout, 
Except that his countenance wore a tired look, 
So busy he'd been in his far-away nook ; 
In work to his elbows day in and day out, — 
No danger of him being laid up with gout ; — 
But what kind of labor no one had he told, 
He looked as if rags and old iron he sold, 
Yet no one had ever once seen him stoop down 
And pick up such old things as those from the 

ground ; 
Although he'd been hanging about now for 

days, 
And looking and acting in many queer ways ; 
To-day he was listening in people's backyards 
And seemed to be writing some names down 

on cards ; 
He peeped in at windows when no one was 

near, 
And sometimes he put to the keyholes his ear ; 



54 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

He looked rather simple, but quiet and good, 
And never asked questions nor begged any 

food; 
So careful he was not to cough or to sneeze, - 
He'd stoop behind fences or dodge behind 

trees 
If anyone watched him from window or door, 
And hastily left for new fields to explore. 
But now it was nearing the close of the day, 
And children were out for an exercise play ; 
The days in the winter are short, at their best, 
But a romp they must have ere retiring to rest. 
Away in the east is a dim little star, 
That warns them dark night is advancing afar ; 
And so with a will they all frolicked and ran, 
Till someone discovered the little old man ; 
They one and all hailed him with riotous shout, 
The boys and girls hastily gathering about; 
He tried to escape them, ran into a court, 
But on they went after him bent on some 

sport ; 
One naughty boy at him some snow roughly 

threw,— 
The little man muttered, "Ah! if you but 

knew ! " 
"Shame! shame!" the rest cried out, "Don't 

do that again ; 
We can have lots of fun without giving him 

pain! " 
So now all surround him and gently they teased; 
One playfully from him his knotty cane seized, 
One stuck an old quill in his hat's broken brim; 
He made no resistance, but looked rather grim; 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 55 

They tried to unbind an immense heavy pack 
That securely was strapped on his old, crooked 

back; 
They strove to unbutton a large, brownish coat 
That covered his form from his heels to his 

throat ; 
They pin strips of paper all over his back, 
And a placard " For Sale " upon him they tack ; 
And he remained patient and quiet through, all, 
Till someone again hit him with a snow-ball. 
Now, this was as naughty as naughty could be, 
And greatly it pained him such conduct to see ; 
'Twas wonderful how the old man kept so still, 
He ought to have boxed that boy's ears, with a 

will ; 
And all the good children were thinking the 

same, 
For they with one impulse in anger exclaim, 
44 For shame! you bad boy, to so roughly en- 
treat 
A destitute stranger alone in the street ; 
Maybe he has neither a friend nor a home ; 
If you know what's best, you'll just let him 

alone!" 
Then, seeing how pleased grew his sad coun^ 

tenance, 
They drew somewhat nearer ; to his side they 

advance 
And stroked his fat fingers, took off all the 

things 
The boys had pinned on him, still calling them 

"wings ; " 
And here, once again, he repeated quite low, 



56 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

" I wonder what each one will say when they 

know! " 
And now they were silent, no one spoke a 

word ; 
So thinking perhaps that now he could be 

heard, 
Said he : " 'Tis the privilege of every old man 
To tell a good story whenever he can, 
And if you'll be quiet a moment or two, 
I'll tell you one that I believe is quite true." 
Now all were attentive, with eyes and with ears, 
Forgetting their play and neglecting their 

jeers; 
His voice was as sweet as the tones of a bell, 
When for the first time on their ears it fell, 
As he opened his lips this tale to impart, 
The moral of which, he hoped, touched every 
heart. 

A poor little girl 

On a door-step sat, 

Carefully feeding 

Some bread to her cat; 

A nice slice of sponge cake 

Lay on her knee, 

Someone had given her 

For her own tea; 

When little kitty for 

More bfead would mew, 

Sweetly she'd tell her, 

"I'm hungry too ; 

This piece of sweet cake, 

You know, is my treat, 

For little have I 



CHRIS TMA S E VER GREEN'S. 

Of such food to eat ! " 

When kitty's last morsel 

Was swallowed from sight, 

Grace opened her mouth, 

To take a big bite 

Of her own supper, 

When, raising her eyes, 

She saw standing near, 

A child her own size, 

But oh, so much poorer ! 

His clothes were all torn, 

His feet almost barefoot 

His shoes were so worn ; 

He spoke in a whisper, 

So low and so sweet, 

" I am very hungry, 

Please give me to eat." 

She offered him quickly 

All that she had, 

And then very sweetly 

To him she said : 

" Not only my supper, 

But take kitty too, 

So you'll have some one 

Nice to love you." 

The kind words had scarcely 

Escaped from her lips, 

When, the boy disappearing, 

In the same place there sits 

An angel — so lovely, 

So radiantly white — 

Who kissed her white forehead 

And vanished from sight. 



58 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

And so, little children, hereafter beware 

How you're treating a stranger; you may 

unaware 
Abuse God's dear angels, or — maybe — now 

think — 
" Someone else of importance! " he said with a 

wink. 
One sweet little maiden, quite timid and mild, 
Asked : "Are you an angel ? " " Well, no, my 

dear child, 
For you see I've no wings as they have to fly, 
And yet, let me tell you, I live in the sky ! " 
" Oh, please, sir, do tell us now what is your 

name; 
These rude boys, I fear, are sadly to blame." 
He straightened himself to remarkable size, 
Which made them all open their eyes in sur- 
prise ; 
His face, that before had looked furrowed and 

old, 
Now seemed very ruddy and fresh-like and 

bold ; 
He threw back his mantle, disclosing to view 
A beautiful overcoat glistening like dew ; 
Then laying his finger one side of his nose, 
He tried to look solemn — and did I suppose — 
Then waited, what seemed to them all a long 

pause, 
Before he said, softly, "My name s Sa?tta Claus!" 
If you could have heard then the wailing and 

woe, 
The girls' "There! we told you ! " and the boys' 

"Oh! oh! oh!" 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 59 

I think you'd have felt just as sorry as he, 
"When down at his feet they knelt penitently, 
And promised him, over and over again, 
They'd never make sport any more of old men. 
"Well, then I'll forgive you this time! wipe 

your eyes, 
And to-night be prepared for a greater surprise." 



THE REWARD OF THE GOOD, OR 
SANTA CLAUS' AGENT. 

The day before Christmas • 
Dawned frosty and bright, 
The bare trees presented 
A beautiful sight ; 
From brown, leafless branches 
The icicles hung 
In crystals, resembling 
A white, silver tongue ; 
The roofs of the houses 
All glistened like dew 
That lays on the flowers 
With sun shining through ; 
The boys and the girls, 
All wrapped to their eyes, 
Stood about on the street, 
Looking up to the skies, 
And listening intently 
With hand to their ear, 
If Santa Claus' reindeers 
Were not somewhere near. 



60 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

" I see them! I see them!" 

One little boy cried, 

As a tiny white cloud 

In the azure, he spied ; 

And he clapped his red hands 

In sweet childish glee 

And called to the others, 

"Come on, follow me!" 

All eagerly started 

Off on a brisk run, — 

And to see their legs fly, 

I tell you was fun ; 

Before they arrived at 

The destined place 

(A block down the Main Street), 

It proved quite a race ; 

Every one to be first 

Had striven his best, 

And each little face was 

As red as his vest ; 

And while they were panting 

Aloud, with their might, 

They looked up and — behold, 

No cloud was in sight ! 

The happy smile faded 

Quite out of each face, 

And one of vexation 

Came into its place ; 

When, all unexpected, 

A bright little girl, — 

The only sweet darling 

Who's lip did not curl, — 

Cried : " Look ! look ! there they are, 






CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. CI 

Just crossing the wire 

On the telegraph pole 

Behind the church spire!" 

Again they all started 

Pell-mell on a run, 

Some slipped on the pavement 

And down they did come ; 

But quick to their rescue 

The others ran back, 

And once more they are off * 

On the reindeers' track. 

They went quite a distance 

Down through a long lane, 

They must get very near 

To the pole to see plain ; 

But gone was their rapture, 

All flown their delight, 

It proved to be only 

An old battered kite. 

So quite disappointed 

They walked to and fro, 

Their hands in their pockets, 

Their feet crunching snow ; 

Said one little fellow, 

" Real still let us be, 

Perhaps we can hear them 

Much better than see." 

And then such a clatter 

They heard, sure enough, 

That must be the reindeers 

On somebody's roof; 

So they pulled back their ears 

And opened their eyes, 



62 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

But to their amazement, 

Disgust and surprise, 

'Twas only the snow-birds 

Upon the barn roofs, 

They now had mistaken 

For reindeers' noofs. 

Now very disheartened 

Back home they all ran ; 

With heads hanging downward 

They bumped 'gainst a man, 

That none of them noticed 

Before, standing round, 

Because they weren't looking 

For things on the ground. 

Such a queer looking chap, 

So round and so fat, 

With a long white top-coat 

And high furry hat ; 

He had the appearance 

Of being stuffed well 

With something unusual, 

But what, none could tell ; 

From under his hat peered 

A little red foot ; 

From out of a pocket 

The heel of a boot; 

The head of a kitten 

Peeped out from his breast, 

But 'twould take too much time 

To tell you the rest. 

He spoke to them kindly : 

" Well, my little dears, 

Pray tell me the meaning 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 63 

Of all these sad tears." 

One little boy answered, 

Without any fear, 

" We've tried to be good, sir, 

Throughout the whole year, 

And now we've been looking 

In the blue sky so bright, 

To see if dear ' Santa ' 

Is coming to-night ; 

We've now looked all over, 

But nowhere appears 

A thing that resembles 

The form of reindeers ! " 

" Of course not, my children 

[His eyes fairly beam], 

You know you can only 

See them in a dream ; 

I'm old Santa's agent, 

And to me he said : 

'Tell all the good children 

To get into bed, 

Put some sleep in their eyes, 

Some caps o'er their ears, 

Then they can see plainly, 

And hear the reindeers.' " 

They gazed at him wondering, 

With fluttering heart, 

Their mouths stretched wide open, 

Their feet far apart ; 

Then off for their homes with 

A shout full of glee, 

They hurried and scampered 

Like caged birds set free. 



64 POE TICAL^ RE CITA TIONS. 

Then did the queer fellow 

"Ha! ha!" and "he! he!" 

And shrug his broad shoulders 

And slap his fat knee ; 

And long ere the stars shone, 

They'd all gone to rest, 

Their ears nightcapped over, 

Sleep on their eyes pressed, 

When lo and behold ! what 

A sight they did see ! 

That same jolly fell'ow 

Still shaking with glee, 

His great-coat wide open, 

His hat fallen back, 

And on his broad shoulders 

An extra large sack 

Crammed full of the finest, 

Desirable things, 

Of every description 

That Christmas time brings. 

His reindeers stood champing 

Outside the house door, 

While he tumbled everything 

Down on the floor ; 

His face fairly radiant 

With honest delight, 

He cried " Merry Christmas ! 

Till morning sleep tight." 

Then over the housetops 

Of rich and of poor 

He flew like the north wind, 

And stopped at each door, 

The same words repeating 



CHRISTMAS EVERGREENS. 65 

To the lowly and high, 
For Santa Claus passes 
No good children by. 
So when Christmas morning 
All awoke to good cheer, 
They vowed to be better 
Than ever next year. 



3* 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION 



OUR OFFERINGS. 

First we'll bring our mortal bodies, 

Casting them at Jesus' feet, 
Asking to be " broken vessels 

For the Master's use made meet." 

Then we'll take upon our shoulders 

Jesus' light and easy yoke, 
As we give into His keeping 

Our young hearts contrite and broke. 

Self-denial, deeds of kindness, 
Are next offerings we will bring; 

Hard-earned pennies, tho' we want them, 
At His feet we'll gladly fling. 

Hours of play, to us so precious, 

To His service we will give; 
And by gentle words and actions, 

Teach some others how to live. 

Time we'll give to search the corners 
Of the earth where gems are found ; 

For we know what kind of jewels 
Jesus wears when He is crowned. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 67 

There are plenty in the desert, 

On the islands of the sea; 
Yes, they're waiting by the thousand, 

Over there, for you and me ! 

Long they've lain in hidden caverns 
Covered from the dazzling light ; 

Waiting to be brought from darkness, 
Polished smooth and clear and bright. 

These are treasures, these are offerings 
To His heart our Lord will fold ; 

For within these hidden jewels 
Lives and breathes a human soul. 



HOW TO GET RICH. 

Who would like to be rich, 

In this world and the next? 
Are there any? Well, then, 

Here's a nice golden text : 
Lay up treasures in heaven, 

Of good deeds a large store s 
And of riches you'll have 

A cup running o'er. 

And here is another, 

With the first will accord : 
" He that gives to the poor 

Lends unto the Lord." 



POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

And who is so poor 

As children in sin? 
Steeped they in poverty, 

Outside and in. 

If you to this people 

The gospel have sent, 
You'll see that the Master 

Pays a liberal per cent, 
And He's surely good pay, 

You'll find out some day; 
When the bills are all in, 

And the balances due, 
You'll find a large margin 

Left over for you. 

Who pays like our Saviour, 

With such God-like favor : 
For sowing in sadness, 

There's reaping in gladness ; 
For one night of sorrow, 

There's joy on the morrow; 
For on Him believing, 

Redemption receiving. 

But Jesus wants always 

A giver that's cheerful; 
Not one that hangs backward, 

And thinks giving fearful ; 
Go down in your pockets, 

Bring up a big handful, 
And help on our mission 

In a spirit that's manful. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 69 

So would you be blessed 

In heaven and earth treasure, 
Give unto the heathen, 

In good, gospel measure ; 
And would you have riches 

Whose wealth will ne'er cease, 
This text then remember, 

" He that scattereth shall increase." 



A TRUE INCIDENT. 

In a far away land where the gospel of Peace 

Has slowly crept in sin's dark night to release ; 

In a bright, cozy room, in the morn of the day, 

Convened a small circle, to study and pray ; 

Some of those little children whose sweet, win- 
some ways 

And soft, rosy lips bespeak perfected praise. 

There were six in the number; each sat in a 
chair, 

Of which there were seven, which made one to 
spare, 

But no one to fill, though it stood like the rest, 

As if it were longing to enfold a dear guest. 

Then the kind leader asked in tones gentle and 
sweet, 

" To whom shall be given this one vacant seat ?" 

Ere the gracious request was but fairly ex- 
pressed, 

The youngest child present, in a voice ringing 
clear, 



70 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Replied in a moment, " To Christ, teacher 

dear! " 
With eyes dimmed, the teacher rejoins, " It is 

meet ; 
Henceforth 'twill be known by the name of 

Christ's seat! " 

By and by, when the children of food did par- 
take, 

From the best each selected nuts, raisins and 
cake, 

Fruits that lay in rich cluster on fresh, cool, 
green leaves, 

And flowers the rarest that nature conceives ; 

All took from their store a most bountiful 
share, 

And laid as an offering before the Christ chair. 

When the plate was well filled, for a sum it was 
sold, 

Of more than its value, yea, many times told, 

Which they consecrate to their work then and 
there, 

And offer to God in the arms of Faith's prayer. 

This may seem a trifle to our earth-dimm'd sight, 
In God's 'twas co-equal with the poor widow's 

mite, 
One of those humble deeds so oft on earth 

done, 
That will rank with the great in the kingdom 

to come ; 
With the cup of cold water 'twill stand side by 

side, 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 71 

Through an endless eternity given to abide ; 
The recompense winning of richest reward, 
The murmured "well done" and the smile of 

the Lord. 
Shall not we be led by the little child hand, 
Outstretched through the light that has dawned 

on that land, 
And have in our hearts a proffered Christ's seat, 
Where faith offered prayer and sweet sacrifice 

meet? 



WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR CHRIST? 

Will all those I see here now — 
As before your God you bow — 
Ask this question in your heart, 
"Am I sure I do my part?" 

If you did, would there still be 
Some who do not bend the knee ? 
Some who do not yet confess 
Jesus Christ in righteousness? 

Do you give until you feel 
You from self a little steal f 
What wzgive is oft the test, 
Love we God or self the best. 

Think you, what have others done, 
When Christ's work was first begun ; 
How they periled life and health, 
Sacrificing home and wealth ; 



72 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Comforts, land of birth, and ease, 
Crossing stormy, treacherous seas ; 
What is gold compared with this? 
Can you call it sacrifice ? 

Do you pray that God will bless 
This His work, and give success 
To the men and women brave 
Seeking heathen souls to save ? 

If you're sure you do your best, 
May your conscience let you rest ; 
But If not, I hope and pray 
" You 11 be troubled night and day.' 



GREETING. 

Kindly greeting, sisters, brothers, 
Fellow workers in one field, 

Who with earnest heart and purpose 
Buckle on Christ's sword and shield. 

Under one great Captain fight we, 
Underneath one gospel flag; 

Never let our footsteps falter, 
Never let our colors drag. 

Sympathy and prayers we tender, 
Asking for the same from you ; 

Hoping to our Captain's colors 
We may ever prove true blue. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 73 

Many streamlets make a river, 
Many branches make a tree ; 

If we're banded close together, 
Trees and rivers we may be. 

Making fruitless valleys fertile, 
Causing withered grass to blade, 

Spreading forth our leafy branches, 
Giving to the weary shade. 

Let us forward press our mission, 
Hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart ; 

God's one canopy is o'er us, 

Though we're often miles apart. 

Many happy, loving greetings, 
Full of blessing, void of tears, 

Tender we, as all unite in 

Giving you three hearty cheers. 



LITTLE TOT. 

I'm the smallest of the lot; 
Some folks call me " Little Tot "; 
But there's much that I can do, 
If I'm not as big as you. 

I love Jesus, 'deed I do, 
And I love the heathen, too ; 
And although my heart is small, 
There's room in it to love you all. 



74 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

GOD IS LOVE. 

There are myriad stars bright glistening, 

In the firmament above ; 
Had they voices they would whisper, 

"Know you, children, God is love? 
Know you we are His own handwork, 

Made so perfect, strange and fair, 
Do you wonder that we're yearning, 

His great wonders to declare ? 

See yon milky way so beauteous ; — 

Tis the pathway angels trod, 
When they left their earthly casket, 

To ascend and dwell with God: — 
'Twas in love He this created, 

'Twas in love He gave us birth, 
Making, as He did, all nations, 

Of one blood, throughout the earth." 



AFTER MANY DAYS. 

A stranger stood beside me, one 
Whom I could not recall 

In face or form, as having met 
In hovel, cot or hall. 

"I was an hungered once," said he, 
" Had naught but husks to eat ; 

When thou upon me didst bestow 
Imperishable meat. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 75 

"My life was near consumed with thirst, 
My lips were parched and dried ; 

Ye gave me water from the fount, 
By living rock supplied. 

" I was a stranger, lone and cold, 

With no befitting garb ; 
Ye clothed me, took me in, with love 

That left no poisoned barb. 

" I was a sufferer racked with pain, 

Ye ministered to me ; 
A prisoner bound with galling chains, 

Ye brought me liberty." 

I gazed upon him ; knew him not ; 

Mine eyes were holden fast ; 
When, suddenly, his aspect changed, 

And I beheld, aghast, 

A countenance whose radiance 

Blinded mine eyes to see ; 
And sweetly said my Saviour's voice, 

"Ye did it unto Me." 



THE ISLES OF THE SEA. 

The isles of the sea are awaiting, 
Still waiting the long promised day, 

When morning shall break there in gladness, 
With the light from the Gospel's ray ; 



76 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Far back in the ages 'twas promised, 
That God would His messengers send, 

The eyes of the sinning to open, 
And be to the heathen a friend. 

As sure as the rainbow of promise, 

Spans the heavens from mountain to sea, 
All tongues shall His dear name acknowledge T 

And to Him shall bend every knee ; 
" Go preach the glad news of salvation, 

And tell all the world I am come ! " 
Are the words from the lips of the Saviour, 

God's only and well-beloved Son. 

Yet still many islands are waiting, 

Still looking this way for the light ; 
And now shall we send it them quickly, 

Or let them remain in dark night? 
Oh, shall it not be, my kind hearers, 

More effort with you and with me ? 
For God is still anxiously looking, 

For these waiting isles of the sea. 



THE MORNING LIGHT. 

The light of the morning 

Is surely now dawning, 
Where night has in terror long reigned ; 

And midnight is quaking 

As daylight is breaking, 
And evil, 'tis now will be chained. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 77 

It is for us token 

That our God hath spoken, 
" Give way, let my people go free ! " 

And Satan is trembling, 

An aspen resembling, 
His subjects he sees on their knee. 

The light radiating, 

O'er heathendom's breaking, 
And daylight will banish her fears ; 

In the glare of noonday, 

Gloom will hasten away, 
To be bound for a thousand of years. 



THE GOLDEN STAIR. 

You have heard, dear friends, of the golden stair, 

That leads straight up to heaven, 
With steps so narrow, straight and steep, 

But polished smooth and even. 

We can't go alone up this narrow stair, 

That would be selfish and mean ; 
There are some we must drag and coax and push, 

And One on whom we must lean. 

I'll tell you who I'm going to take with me, 

As I climb it with all my might ; 
And if I can only get hold of their hands, 

I tell you I'll hold to them tight. 

They are some little boys who sometimes swear, 
And often get into a fight ; 



78 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

But in them I know is a world of good, 
If they but knew how to do right. 

And some little girls, maybe, I might take, 
If they would behave and not tease ; 

I know I could help them from step to step, 
With gentle and perfect ease. 

And any old folks who were struggling along, 

With feeble and tottering walk; 
I'll give them a lift on my shoulders broad, 

And beguile them with cheering talk. 

And there is a nation of children and men, 

Far over the wide surging sea, 
Who never have heard of this golden stair; — 

These, also, I'm taking with me. 

I cannot get hold of them by their hands, 
So carry them on my young heart ; 

And sometimes I feel them so heavy, Fm tired. 
And wish someone else would bear part. 

Dear friends, you know of this beautiful stair, 
Please give us a lift with all these ; 

They're down at the bottom, you're near to the 
top, 
Stoop down and their hands help us seize. 

Help lift with your money, your hands and your 
prayers, 

Till we get to the top all together; 
Then Jesus will smile and bid us come home, 

And rest from our climbing forever. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 79 

WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 

Watchman, tell us of the night, 
What is yonder ray of light, 
Coming with the mountain breeze, 
Gently touching tops of trees? 
Has the night in safety passed? 
Has the day-break dawned at last? 
(echo in the distance.) 
All's well! All's well! 

Has night's darkness flown away, 
Making room for glorious day? 
Will the clouds and dewy mist, 
Which the day-god softly kissed, 
Leave so bright an atmosphere, 
They can read their title clear? 
(echo.) 
All's well ! All's well ! 

Watchman, cheering words you tell, 
And we will the echo swell, 
(double echo.) 
All's well! All's well! 



CHRIST'S LITTLE MESSENGERS. 

We are messengers for Jesus, 

All these little folks and I ; 
To prepare the way before him, 

Jesus sent us from on high. 



POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Do not think because we're tiny, 

There is nothing we can do ; 
We can even preach a sermon — 

Of our own — as well as you. 

We can tell the "old, old story," 

In as many different ways; 
For from out the mouths of infants, 

God, you know, perfected praise. 

And these tiny little fingers 
Can unlink the massive chain 

Satan binds upon his subjects, 

Though he holds with might and main. 

They can pick up little pebbles, 

That would wound Christ's bleeding feet 

And can help poor wandering children, 
Gather 'round His mercy-seat. 

Aren't we messengers for Jesus? 

Cannot we the sweet name bear? 
Crystal raindrops are quite little, 

But the earth could not them spare. 

In the world, what is there smaller 
Than one little grain of sand? 

But if many are together, 

You can on a mountain stand. 

Yes, we're messengers for Jesus, 

For we help in many ways 
To prepare the way before Him, 

And He 11 come ere many days. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 81 

Then sweet flowers and green branches, 
We can strew before our King ; 

Casting down our hearts before Him, 
Welcome ! welcome ! we will sing. 



THE LITTLE MISSIONARY'S DREAM. 

A little boy sat by a clear, bright stream, 

For awhile in a quite mood ; 
Then looked all about him in eager haste, 

For string and small pieces of wood. 

" I'll build me a ship," he then said aloud, 
"And call her the bright Morning Star ; 

I'll sail from the north to the warm sunny south, 
From the east to the west afar. 

" I'll man her with all the good boys and girls, 
That I play with all the long day ; 

And then we will be brave missionaries, 
As we sail in my ship away." 

He played and he played till so weary he grew, 

He fell fast asleep on the sod, 
And dreamed that a messenger all in white, 

Descended directly from God, 

And stood by his side and talked with him there, 

Then gave him the angels' seal, 
And told him some day when he was a man, 

His play of to-day should be real. 



82 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

But when he awoke the night had come on, 

And he fled to his home in fear, 
Forgetting about his play and his dream, 

For many and many a year. 

He grew to the age and stature of man, 
And out in the wide world he went, 

Scattering the seed of the gospel of Truth 
Wheresoever his footsteps bent. 

The spirit of God then led him aboard 
Our new " Morning Star" one day, 

Then flashed through his mind the dream of his 
youth, 
The ship and his childish play. 

And now he knew 'twas an Angel of Light, 
That appeared of his dream a part ; 

And ere it pinioned its wings for flight, 
It left a white ray in his heart. 



HOW TO PRAISE GOD'S NAME. 

God made the little birds to sing, 

To praise His holy name, 
And though I'm not a little bird, 

He made me for the same. 

My voice is not just like a bird's, 

Nor have I wings to fly; 
But if I work for Jesus here, 

I'll have them up on high. 



. MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 83 

God made my little heart to love 

Him, and His creatures, too ; 
Our Jesus loves the heathen child, 

And so should / and you. 

For they don't know our Saviour dear, 

And we must send the news 
Of His salvation of the soul 

To Turks, Chinese and Jews, 

To Afric's sons and daughters black, 

To Greeks and Pagans, too ; 
For Jesus died for all mankind, 

And not for just a few. 

Nor is it color Jesus loves, — 

If black, or white, or brown, 
Our Lord will give to each, in heav'n, 

The same bright golden crown. 

You'll see there, faces that were dark, 
And eyes that once were wild ; 

You'll see the mother that would give 
Her babe to crocodile. 

Now if we send the holy Word, 

To such as these, I claim 
That is one way to serve and praise, 

God's great and glorious name. 

Then haste, my lips, to sing His praise, 

My heart, be full of love ; 
My little hands and feet, be swift 

To serve my God above. 



84 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

AFRICA. 

Deepest gloom and midnight darkness, 

Lay on Afric's wretched land ; 
In their hearts no love for brother, 

And no fear of God's command ; 
Ignorant and superstitious, 

Serving gods of wood or clay, 
Offering them as sacrifices, 

Many infants in a day. 

Lower still and lower sank they, 

Till of light there's not a ray, — 
But, you know, the hour is darkest, 

Just before the break of day; — 
Then a little band of Christians, 

Offered them a helping hand ; 
'Twas brave hearts and noble impulse, 

Ventured in that desperate land. 

How they started back in horror 

At the sight that met their view ; 
Filthy, squalid, black and naked, 

Human beings ! — was it true? 
Some there were that looked like monsters, 

Coming out from hut and den, 
And they asked each other, shuddering, 

11 Can it be that these are men ? 

These, for whom Christ left the Father, 

Gave Himself a sacrifice, 
To redeem from sinful bondage 

This black race ? Oh, what a price ! " 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 85 

But they buckled on God's armor, 
Patience, love and Christian grace, 

And He gave them heavenly wisdom, 
How to deal with this dark race. 

When the light of knowledge entered, 

Opening wide their untaught mind, 
Quick they grasped the truths of Jesus 

Round their hearts the words to bind. 
Would that you could see them sitting 

At the missionary's feet, 
Their black faces raised so earnest, 

Drinking in His words so sweet. 

Now they sit in right minds clothed, 

And in neat and modest dress ; 
In their arms their little infants, 

To a loving heart they press. 
Volumes could not hold the record, 

Of the good our work has done, 
For no race was more down trodden, 

Underneath God's glorious sun. 



THE PEARL. 

[For a very small girl.] 

My mamma said she had a shell, 
Which held a precious pearl ; 

And so I ran to hunt it up, — 
For I'm a " curious " girl ; — 

But nowhere could the shell be found, 

I searched it high and low ; 



86 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

So then I thought the better way 

Would be to her to go, 
And ask her where she kept the shell, 

That held the costly pearl: — 
What do you think her answer was ? 

" Why, 'tis yourself, my girl ! " 



MICRONESIA. 

'Tis not many years ago, 
Micronesia lay in woe ; 
Bound in fetters fast, she wore 
Heavier chains than slaves e'er bore ; 
Savage as the beasts of prey, 
Barbarous and degraded they; 
Ofttimes when they lacked for meat, 
One another they would eat. 

'Twas this country sent us word 
That they liked "American bird " ; 
They no finer dish could boast 
Than Missionary broiled, on toast. 
Nothing daunted by their spar, 
Thither went the " Morning Star," 
On her pilgrimage of love, 
Sailing like a carrier dove. 

Laden she with earnest men, 
Armed with bibles, tracts and pen ; 
Ready now for any strife, 
E'en to laying down their life. 
Just a word now let me tell 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 87 

Of the work they've done so well. 
Sprinkled over all the land, 
On their islands, churches stand ; 
Native pastors by the score, 
Native teachers, even more, 
Stand within the sacred wall 
Sounding forth the gospel call ; 
Schools for intellect and skill, 
For the natives at their will. 

Now we're getting back again 
Help, such as we gave to them ; 
Has it paid, dear Christian friend, 
Micronesia light to send ? 
Light to break upon her shore 
That will darken nevermore? 
Is there something more to do ? 
That's the question now for you ; 
And your answer we shall know, 
By the help you will bestow. 



HOW TO MAKE A MISSIONARY. 

Take two hands that never weary, 
Add two feet that never tire, 

Two lips full of kind words cheery, 
One heart full of gospel fire ; 

Stir them well with prayer and interest, 
Sympathy and love well blent ; 

Mix in ready money freely. 
Flavor with encouragement. 



POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Drop him in a land of sinners, 

Frost him thick with brotherhood, 

And you'll have a Missionary 
Of the finest magnitude. 



THE GOLDEN BELT. 

We are forging a belt of the purest gold, 
For an endless chain when its links are all told ; 
We'll prayerfully guard it from earthly dross, 
And clasp it when done with Immanuel's cross. 

We are forging it slowly, link after link, 
Making it lengthy and solid and strong, 
To enchain the heathen all over the globe, — 
And little by little we're pushing along. 

We've reached Micronesia and taken her in, 

She lay in the depths of idolatrous sin ; 

But now from the cross streams a long ray of 

light, 
That makes their dark faces look happy and 

bright. 

The links are extended to Africa's clime, 
And she's belted in secure for all time ; 
Her idols in pieces lay scattered around, 
And to our Jehovah their hearts are bowed 
down. 

Now Turkey and China have let us come in, 
To rescue their souls from corruption and sin ; 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 89 

When they first saw our belt they grasped it 

with joy ; — 
They know now, 'tis more than a glittering toy. 

I speak of the links and will tell you the name, 
Of the rivets that fasten this wonderful chain ; 
They are love, prayer and money — and the more 

of these 
We can put in our belt, the faster it weaves. 

Like toilers for Jesus, our work will be pressed, 
We'll think not a moment of taking a rest, 
Till all this earth over, Christ's banner's un- 
furled, 
And our Golden Belt shall encircle the world. 



THE "I CAN'T'S" AND THE "I'LL 
TRY'S." 

[One older girl as Teacher: five boys and five girls.] 

TEACHER. 

Children, Christ has loving service, 

Every day, for you ; 

Listen, while I tell you kindly 

W T hat He'd have you do. 

Those who will be willing servants 

Promptly say " I'll try"; 

Others say " I can't," and quickly 

Turn your backs and cry. 

Jesus wants a little maiden 

Who will truthful be. 



90 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

FIRST GIRL. 

I'll try, teacher, from all falsehood to be wholly 
free. 

the children are grouped; the teacher leads 
the "i'll try's" one side, to the front of 
platform; the "i can't's" remain. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little soldier 
That will fight all wrong. 

FIRST BOY, SLOWLY. 

I can't do it ! 'taint worth trying, 
'Cause I am not strong. 

TURNS HIS BACK, COVERING HIS FACE WITH HIS HANDS. 
TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little servant 
That will gather chips. 

SECOND GIRL. 

, I'll try gladly, though it may be 
I'll have many slips. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little builder 
To repair His house. 

SECOND BOY. 

I can't, teacher, 'cause I'm dreadful 
Afraid of a church-mouse. 

TURNS AND PLACES HIS LITTLE FINGER IN HIS MOUTH. 
TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little pilgrim 
That will seek His shrine. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 91 

THIRD GIRL. 

I'll try, and I'll follow closely 
Duty's pleasant line. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little seeker 
After righteousness. 

THIRD BOY. 

I can't, for it's always striving, 
Working, more or less. 

TURNS AND PLACES HANDKERCHIEF TO HIS FACE. 
TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little nurse girl 
Who will cheer the sick. 

FOURTH GIRL. 

I'll try, and to give them pleasure 
Sweetest flowers I'll pick. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little brother 
To protect His name. 

FOURTH BOY. 

I'll try; then when I'm in trouble 
He will do the same. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a little sister 
Clinging to His hand. 

FIFTH GIRL. 

I'll try, for I know He'll guide me 
To the better land. 



92 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

TEACHER. 

Jesus wants a missionary, 
Gospel truths to tell. 

FIFTH BOY. 

I'll try, and with His assistance, 
Strive to tell them well. 

ALL THE "I'LL TRY'S " BEING GROUPED, SING TO THE 
TUNE "HOLD THE FORT." 

Here we stand His willing servants, 
And He's ever nigh 
To uphold our faltering footsteps, 
If we say, " I'll try." 

CHORUS. 

Forward, then, and work for Jesus, 
Serve the Lord on high ; 
Let the motto on our banner 
Ever be, "Fll try." 



FROM SORROW TO JOY. 

THE CHILD MAY BE DRESSED IN WHITE, WITH RIB- 
BONS, FLOWERS, ETC., BUT ENVELOPED IN A FADED, 
TATTERED SHAWL, WHICH SHE THROWS OFF AT THE 
WORDS " FOR THEN.'' 

Dear friends, you see standing before you to- 
night 

A poor little girl in a very sad plight ; 

I'm collector of funds for our church-building 
band, 

An object of charity here I now stand. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 93 

I know your kind hearts will let pity rush in, 
When you see my distress and garments so 

thin ; 
I am shivering with cold, from the wind and the 

rain, 
And my heart turns to you, on whom I have 

claim. 



I'm but one of a thousand who wearily roam, 
From far distant countries to find a new home ; 
We've strayed to the unsettled wilds of the 

west, 
Hoping there to cast anchor, find shelter and 

rest ; 

But what do we find for our long patient 

search ? 
There is scarcely a house and seldom a church ; 
And sad tears will fall, for our hearts are like 

lead ; 
We have hardly a place to lay our tired head. 

All this you can remedy, kind-hearted people : 
Build us homes and a church; — we won't ask 

for a steeple ; 
Our lot you can cheer and so greatly repair, 
If from your large store just a little you'll 

spare. 

No longer, so tired, we'll falter and lag ; 
No longer our aching and wearied limbs drag; 
For then, we before you in joy will appear, 
Our sorrows all vanished, and dried every tear. 



94 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Would you be one pillar on which these homes 

rest? 
Then give, and give cheerfully, so you'll be blest, 
And twine round your pillar such roses as 

these,* 
To send forth sweet fragrance on every light 

breeze. 



* Display silver dollars. 



BUILD ME A HOME. 

Kind friends, God asks you to build Him homes, 
Where His spirit may come and abide ; 

O'er which He can fold His peaceful white wing, 
And sit by His worshipers' side. 

Build homes for the shepherds who watch o'er 
His fold, 

Who trials and hardships endure ; 
Build homes they can turn to with loving hearts, 

And gather the lambs in secure. 

Build homes for His children on prairies wild, 
By mountains and valleys and streams ; 

Build homes for the homeless, on which, always, 
The light of God's countenance beams. 

Oh, build God "sweet homes," from the towers 
of which 

Sabbath bells will ring sweet and clear, 
And call out to those passing by on their way, 

" Oh, come in and worship God here ! " 



MISSION BAXD COLLECTION. 95 

Help on this good work : it will not be long 
Ere you've numbered life's golden sands; 

Then you will inherit a home in the sky, 
A " temple not made with hands." 



WHAT MISSIONARIES HAVE DONE 
FOR TURKEY AND CHINA. 

[For a boy and girl.] 

TURKEY. 

We thought that we were happy. 

For we believed in God. 
And bowed to his great prophet 

Mahomet's cruel rod. 



Oh, we had gods so many. 

Of wood and stones and flowers ; 

I gave them even-thing I had. 
And worshiped them for hours. 

TURKEY. 

We thought that in the harem, 

The truest joy was found. 
Arrayed in costly fabrics, 

And jewels scattered round. 

CHINA. 

We liked to smoke our opium pipe, 

Our pigtail braided even ; 
For without that, you know, we thought 

We could not enter heaven. 



96 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

TURKEY. 

But now you know just what it is 
That paves the way to heaven ; 

For since the Missionaries came 
The true light you are given. 



Gh, yes indeed ! we owe to them, 

Our deepest gratitude ; 
They've taught us right from wrong to know, 

With light our souls imbued. 



And we have rights we ne'er had known, 
But for these Christians here ; 

For they have thrown a hallowed joy, 
Upon our homes so drear. 

BOTH. 

God bless the Missionaries kind, 

For all that they have done ; 
And may we meet them all in heav'n, 

Around the great white throne ! 



GOD'S COLLECTING AGENT. 

[For a boy. Just before taking up a collection.] 

Up in heaven God has a casket, — 
Shaped, it may be, like this basket ; 
Whether it is few or many, 
Through to His drops every penny. 



MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 97 

Open wide your hearts and purses, 
In proportion to your mercies ; 
Drop in freely dimes and nickels, 
Or we'll make a face like pickles. 

Would it not be jolly funny, 
If, when we shall count our money, 
This will be just running over — 
Won't we children be in clover? 

As a rule, I'm anti-treater, 
But I know of nothing sweeter 
Than the treat of getting money 
For our work ; it's good as honey. 

For I'm God's Collecting Agent, 
And our call for funds is urgent ; 
Give us freely, pour in steady ; 
Here I come, please all get ready. 



A LITTLE SERMON. 

[By a little Preacher. Before a collection.] 

Brethren and s'isters, you will find my text in 
Paul's epistle to the Galatians, sixth chapter 
and tenth verse. In brief, " Do good as you 
have opportunity." 

Firstly, brethren, try avoid 

One another cheating; 
Opportunity for this, 

Everywhere you're meeting. 



98 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Secondly, don't talk too much, 
(This is for the sisters) ; 

Shield each other's characters, 
From all scandal blisters. 

Thirdly, if you see a man 
Nearly drowned in sorrow, 

Give him half a chance to live, 
Lend him, if he'll borrow. 

Do it quickly, kindly too, 
Without sign of grudging; 

Opportunities like this, 
Are your elbows nudging. 

Fourthly, if you see a chap, 
Looking kind of seedy ; 

Take this opportunity, 

To prove you are not greedy. 

Give him a big slice of bread, 
Spread it thick with butter, 

Sprinkle sugar on it too, 
Over which don't sputter. 

Fifthly, enemies forgive, 
Without any scoring ; 

Tenderly upon their heads 
Red-hot coals be pouring. 

Sixthly, if a schoolmate hits 
You right between your eyes ; 

Kiss his cheek, then quickly note 
His look of great surprise. 






MISSION BAND COLLECTION. 99 

There are numerous points to make, 

But I will not linger ; 
Right before me is the clock, 

With its warning finger. 

So, my hearers, I'll be brief, 
Lest your patience weary, 

And you think my sermon long, 
Dry and somewhat dreary. 

Lastly, brethren, you should give 

To our work unsparing ; 
This grand opportunity 

In your face is staring. 

When we pass the basket round, 

Ere our meeting closes, 
You will find it very near, 

Underneath your noses. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 

Christian workers who toil by the wayside to-day r 
Faint not in your service nor flattering be, 
For along all the way is a harvest of sheaves, 
Waiting for thee. 

Patient workers, take courage, renew all thy- 

powers, 
For on earth and in heaven the redeemed bend 

the knee, 
In fervent thanksgiving and earnest entreaty 
Praying for thee. 



100 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Tireless workers, ye are lights that are set on a 

hill, 
Your lamps burning bright, casting rays o'er 

the sea, 
There'd be thousands in darkness now lingering 

still, 

Only for thee. 

Faithful workers, not far in the future, you'll 

stand 
On the sweet, restful shores of the clear jasper 

sea, 
Where a palm and a crown in the Saviour's own 

hand, 

Is waiting for thee. 



LET US WORK. 

Our God is so mightily working, 

Why should not we? 
In Him is no idleness lurking, 

Then why in me ? 
For souls He is earnestly pleading, 

Oh, why not we? 
And thousands to Him He is leading 

With "Come unto Me!" 
Then why should not we, patient waiting, 
The hands of the fallen be taking, 
Their sinful souls gently awaking 

With " Come and see ! " 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 



THE GOLDEN GATE. 

I saw away yonder a wonderful gate, 
Arched high in the heaven so blue ; 

'Twas set with great diamonds and marvelous 
pearls, 
And rubies resplendent in hue. 

Its sapphires were lustrous, its amethysts clear, 
Its emeralds bright sparkling green ; 

And all precious metals and every rare gem, 
In beautiful order were seen. 

And sometimes this wonderful gate stands ajar, 
For those who are called to pass through ; 

Their garments are whiter than wind-driven 
snow, 
And sparkle with dazzling hue. 

For they have been washed in the blood of the 
Lamb — 
That offering on Calvary's mount — 
Their ransom was purchased and pardoned each 
sin, 
When dipped in the life-giving fount. 



102 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

"Tis a curious thing, and to me very strange, 
What wonders this fountain can do ; 

I've witnessed it make a most wonderful change, 
In people of darkliest hue. 

One day as I watched near the opening gate, 

There passed in of Africa's race, 
A multitude, who for their faith had been slain, 

And each had a pure, white face. 

It seems that no matter what color the skin, 

If yellow or blackish or white, 
Before they pass in thro ' this glorious gate, 

They all become perfectly white. 

Some others went in, too, I noticed one day, 
Through the gate standing slightly ajar, 

Whose faces had always been white during life, 
But now they were whiter by far. 

So I drew near the keeper and asked: "Who 
are these, 
Just passing in under the gate?" 
Said he : " These are they who have served the 
great King 
With faithfulness, early and late." 

"How served Him?" asked I, with foreboding 
dread, 

For fear I might not of them be ; 
He looked at me then with a radiant smile, 

Saying: "Little one, come unto me." 

He held my two hands in the tenderest clasp, 
And asked me in accents so mild ; 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 103 

*' Would you serve the King as these others 
have done? 
Then give Him your heart, dearest child. 

Then, clothes to the naked, and food to the poor, 

Just a goblet of water cold, 
If you have nothing more ; but give in my name, 

And bid them come into my fold. 

You must visit the sick, the sorrowing, and those 

Who sit behind strong iron bars ; 
And hasten to carry the Gospel of Life 

To all dwelling under the stars. 

Give back to the Saviour who freely to you, 

Has given much gold and estate ; 
Then feed my dear lambs and bear sweetly my 
cross, 

And you'll enter the golden gate." 

" Feed your lambs," bear your cross ! " I cried in 
dismay ; 

"Yes!" he answered, with kindly nod ; 
" This beautiful gate leads into my heaven, 

And /, its one keeper, am God ! " 



HOW BEAUTIFUL! 

How beautiful upon the mountain, 
Are the feet of them that bring, 

Glad tidings of salvation free, 
To make all nations sing ! 



104 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

How beautiful upon the mountain, 
Are the hands that seeds bestow, 

To make the wilderness bear fruit, 
And blossom like the rose! 

How beautiful upon the mountain, 
Are the words from, lips and voice, 

That lift the veil from darkened eyes, 
And make the heart rejoice ! 

How beautiful upon the mountain, 
Is the faithful, fervent prayer, 

That's' raised to heaven to dissipate 
Our dark night of despair! 

How beautiful upon the mountain, 
Will shine forever the star, 

In the crown of those that rescue, 
One soul from the judgment bar! 



OUR SALVATION ARMY. 

[For small boys, dressed in uniform if desired.] 

We are God's little army, 

And really love to fight, 
Because there is no bloodshed 

In our battles for the right. 

We pull down Satan's strongholds, 
With faith and love and prayer ; 

And when we have them conquered, 
We plant our standard there. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 105 

We march in little companies, 

With banners all unfurled ; 
Our captain will cry " Forward ! " 

Till we've marched around the world. 

Our bullets made of pennies, 

Will never miss the marks, 
And dry we'll keep the powder, 

And fire with righteous sparks. 

Our banner has no strange device ; 

Tis simply "Cross and Crown," 
And when we've stamped it on the earth, 

We'll lay our weapons down. 



YE GAVE ME NO KISS. 

I was a little stranger child. 

The teacher took my hand and smiled, 
Looking so kindly, good and sweet, 

As she assigned me to a seat, 
My heart went out to her in trust, 

I hungered so for love, a crust. 

My mother had but lately died, 

And when she called me to her side, 

And laid her hand upon my head, 
In faltering tones she softly said : 

"When I am laid beneath the sod, 

You'll find, my child, no friend like God.' 

I mind me how the lesson told, 
To give a cup of water cold 



106 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

To any one in Jesus' name, 

Would be like giving Him the same. 

My eyes on her unwavering bent, 
I listened, heart and ear intent : 

I thought, this cup with love she'd fill, 
And give to me my thirst to still. 

And well do I remember, next, 

She read to us the golden text, 
Which told how God respected all 

Mankind alike, if great or small, 
If rich or poor, or young or old ; 

And then in earnest words she told, 
That Jesus loves a child no less 

Than kings ; on this she laid much stress. 

When with such golden words as these, 
She bound my heart to her with ease, 

I thought my mother need not fear, 
I'd found a friend well nigh as dear 

As God ; her love for me has grown, 
Although I'm friendless, poor and lone. 

But when the class she had dismissed, 

Each little one she sweetly kissed 
Except myself; on me she smiled, 

And said : " You'll come again, my child ? " 
I could not speak, I felt so chilled, 

My throbbing heart to bursting filled ; 
Her heart, I knew, was good and kind, 

But in her was a different mind 
Than God's, or she would surely pressed 

The stranger child unto her breast. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 107 

Oh, what a great mistake was there, 
That I should mortal love compare 

With Christ's ! I swallowed hard to choke 
The gushing tears ; my mother spoke 

To me again, from 'neath the sod : 

" You'll find, my child, no friend like God" 



FOUND! — A GEM. 

I have found a costly gem ; 
From a monarch's diadem 
It must be, for there is dearth 
Of such jewels on the earth. 

Even in the deep, blue sea, 
Such rare jewels cannot be ; 
Nor in mines where brilliant stones 
Hide within their covert thrones. 

In the mountain's rocky cave, 
On the shore's wild waters lave, 
Nowhere can such gems be bought, 
Though you search the world throughout. 

Though 'tis mine — this precious gem, 
With no flaw one can condemn — 
Though 'tis priceless, perfect, true, 
This rare gem I offer you. 

Do you know this wondrous stone? 
Will you take it for your own ? 
'Tis the pearl of greatest price, 
Dropped to each from Paradise ! 



108 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

FIELDS. 

[For five boys.] 

FIRST BOY. 

Boys ! everywhere waiting are fields to be had, 
Where we can labor and make others glad ; 
Fields that are waiting for you and for me, 
Who'll take a claim now, and which shall it be? 

SECOND BOY. 

I'll take the street field ; there's much to be done 
That's generous and kindly while having much 

fun ; 
I'll mind to bend over when other frogs leap, 
And when I play marbles it won't be for 

" keeps!" 

THIRD BOY. 

I'll take the field of the every-day school, 
And try very hard to obey every rule ; 
To learn all my lessons my back I will crook, 
Before for an answer I peek in my book. 

FOURTH BOY. 

I'll take the home field; 'tis best that I should, 
To rock sister's cradle and split kindling wood ; 
Sift cinders, run errands, blow the fire to a blaze, 
And help my dear mother in various ways. 

FIFTH BOY. 

I'll take the Sabbath school field, and I'll bend 
Every effort to get all the boys to attend ; 
I'll try not to play with or pinch the next boy, 
Stick pins or make spit-balls to others annoy. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 109 

FIRST BOY. 

You've chosen so well, boys, I really can't see 
There's any selection left open for me ; 
So I'll just fall in line with and help all the rest, 
So let's work with a will and see who can do 
best. 



WALK WITH GOD. 

Walk with God ? Which is the way, 
He will choose to walk to-day? 
Will the path be strewn with flowers, 
Floods of perfume, sunlit hours? 

Will the streets be paved with gold, 
Studded o'er with gems untold? 
Must the angels there abide, 
Or His steps will turn aside? 

Should the way be very dark, 
Not one glimmering ray or spark 
Of clear light my steps to guide, 
Will He still walk by my side? 

Should temptation's fiery dart, 
Grieve my soul and pierce my heart, 
Will He by my side remain, 
Sharing all my grief and pain ? 

Should the way be cheerless, cold, 
Will He not let go his hold? 
Will His kind voice cheer me on, 
Till the goal I seek is won? 



110 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Yes! I'll feel His hand in mine, 
As I walk along the line, 
He has marked so narrow, straight, 
Leading up to heaven's gate. 

I will walk with God to-day, 
Nor from His side will ever stray; 
Not only will He hold my hand, 
But guide me to the promised land. 



KNOCKING AT THE DOOR. 

Don't you hear the gentle Saviour, 

Knocking at your heart's closed door?' 

Open wide and bid him enter, 
And remain forevermore. 

Let him in, the gentle Jesus, 
Bid him as your guest abide ; 

Make your heart a holy temple, 
Where with joy he will reside. 

He will cast out fear and envy, 

Evil foes dare not come in ; 
While he guards the temple's fortress,. 

Thou'lt defeat the hosts of sin. 

It is He that's gently knocking, 
When your heart is softly stirred, 

By the truths your earnest teacher, 
Reads you from His holy word. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Ill 

Open wide your hearts, so tender, 

Ere they're locked and barred by sin ; 

Even now He's gently pleading, 
" Child, I pray you, let me in." 



FIELD OF GOLD. 

I have a cluster of rare gems, 

Found in a field of gold; 
A field whose yieldings never rust, 

Nor tarnish when grown old. 

The first I found was lustrous truth, 

And oh, how it did shine, 
To eyes whose wayward gaze had dwelt 

On falsehood dark, like mine ! 

And further on lay honesty, 

Embedded in a rock ; 
And when I clasped it in my hand, 

The diamond's glow it mocked. 

Obedience, prayer, benevolence, 

Quite close together lay ; 
And their three-fold resplendent light 

Was brighter than the day. 

I scanned them o'er oft counting them, 
And pondering which was best, 

When lo, I fo.und pure, radiant love 
Outshining all the rest. 



112 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

I've told my gems and now I'll tell, 
Where is the field of gold ; 

It is the blessed Sabbath-school, 
The Shepherd's tenderest fold. 



OUR LITTLE GIFTS. 

[For five little girls.] 

FIRST CHILD. 

I give to God my infant voice, 
To bid the world in Him rejoice. 

SECOND CHILD. 

I give to God my infant hands, 
To scatter good seed o'er the lands. 

THIRD CHILD. 

I give to God my infant feet, 

To gather children from the street. 

FOURTH CHILD. 

I give to God my infant heart, 
To love Him dearly is my part. 

FIFTH CHILD. 

I give to God my pennies all, 
In answer to the gospel's call. 



We give to God our strength and might, 
To battle for the truth and right. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. lia 

THE SUN AND THE STAR. 

[For a boy and girl.] 
the sun. (boy.) 

I am king of the earth, and I ride all day, 
In a chariot of blue and fleecy clouds gay ; 
I shine in magnificent splendor and heat, 
And have all the busy world under my feet ; 
I drive off the mist from the mountain-tops blue, 
And drink to my fill of the fresh morning dew ; 
From daintiest rose-leaf and flowery cup, 
Or snow-crested hill-tops I feast and I sup ; 
I dim the pale light of the stars by the glow 
I throw o'er the earth, when, like monarch I go, 
Enwrapped in my mantle of amber and red, 
To rest in my purple and gold royal bed. 
I'm glad I'm the Sun in my radiant car, 
And not yonder pale, little, lone, trembling star. 

THE STAR. (GIRL.) 

Quite true, kingly Sun, you are god of the earth, 

But /heralded a mightier One's birth! 

I know you do all that you claim, powerful Sun, 

But my work begins just as soon as you're done ; 

I ride all the night in a chariot as fair, 

And have all the sleeping world under my care ; 

I, too, have a brilliant and dazzling hue, 

If I'm not as strong and vainglorious as you. 

I watch in deep silence while heaven's dews 

distill, 
Then wake gentle zephyrs the flower cups to fill ; 
When from your hot glances they shrinkingly 

turn, 

5 



114 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Tis I and the shades of night, for whom they 

yearn. 
The fiery red glow that you cast in the west, 
Enhances my welcome to nature's tired breast. 
I'm Hope's trustful guide and gentle Faith's 

guest, 
By mankind and angels alike I am blest ; 
And so I'm content in my blue home afar, 
That you are the Stm, and / naught but the Star. 



GOD KNOWS BEST. 

If through adverse waters in life you must sail, 
Encountering and buffeting many a gale, 
Lean only on Jesus, thine own arm will fail : 

Tired heart ! lean for rest 

On God, who knows best. 

You know not but poverty, sickness and toil ; 
God uses in wisdom to gently uncoil 
The heart-strings now clinging too strong to 
earth's soil ; 

O heart of unrest ! 

Trust God, who knows best. 

It may be that what He does now you know 

not, 
But shall know hereafter, when, cleansed from 

each blot, 
Thy soul shall be purified, trials forgot, — 
O heart ! be at rest ; 
God knows what is best. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 115 

ACORNS. 

I seem to you a little boy ; 

My papa thinks I'm but a toy ; 

But this, my friends, I'm sure you know, 

•'Tall oaks from little acorns grow." 

Tall oaks, mean great, big men, you see, 

And that is what I hope to be ; 

And if I am I know I'll try, 

To do some great things by and by. 

I now begin to pennies earn, 
And soon they will to dollars turn ; 
So now I'll give my pennies free, 
And later, dollars it shall be. 

Now, in proportion to my size, 
Won't you my little lesson prize ; 
First acorns, pennies, boys, and then 
Tall oaks, bright dollars and great men. 



THE LIVING WATER. 

Go, carry the living water, 
To thirsting souls who wait ; 

Haste, carry it to them quickly 
And bid them freely take. 

Go, tell them this living fountain, 
Hath inexhaustible store ; 

And 'tis well, for those who taste it, 
Want of it more and more. 



116 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Go, place to the lips of childhood 
A cup its thirst to assuage, 

And lead to the brink of the well-spring, 
The feeble and tottering age. 

'Twill quench the thirst of the dying, 
The sick, the weary 'twill save ; 

This free-flowing, sparkling water, 
Will rescue a king or a slave. 

For all is this living water ! 

In the soul wherein it is rife, 
There'll spring up a crystal fountain, 

Of pure, everlasting life. 



EARTH'S SACRED JEWELS. 

Earth hath jewels rich and rare, 
Gems of value past compare ; 
Not in mines hid 'neath the ground, 
Nor in sea-beds are these found. 

Gushing from the red lips, flow 
Burning rubies all aglow, 
Emblem of celestial food, 
This rare jewel — gratitude. 

Brimming o'er the soft, kind eye 
Drops the pearl of — sympathy ; 
Copious showers of sorrow's rain, 
Bring the softening emerald — pain. 






MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 117 

Shrined within the human heart, 
Gem that has no counterpart, 
Shaded from the dome above, 
Matchless sapphire — mother love. 

Earth's reverses that befall, 
Life's misfortunes, great or small, 
Bear unflinchingly the test 
Of true friendship's amethyst. 

Light absorbing from the sun, 
To reflect when day is done, 
White, ethereal, sparkling ray, 
Peerless diamond — charity. 

In a clustered diadem 
Lies a pure and holy gem ; 
Our immortal soul laid bare 
Is its setting — earnest prayer. 

Earth hath jewels, sacred, rare, 
Rich or poor alike may wear; 
Crown gems of the soul, they shine 
With effulgency divine. 



LOVE'S SERVICE. 

[For a small child.] 

Oh, how I long to serve God ! 
I am little, I know, 
But some day I'll grow 

And walk in the footsteps He trod. 



118 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

How I long every day to do right ! 

To have a low seat 

At dear Jesus' feet 
At morning, at noon and at night. 

How I long to run the good race ! 
'Tis not to the swift 
Nor the strong, the gift 

Of seeing Him face to face. 

But such little creatures as I, 

With earnest desire, 

May truly aspire, 
To serve Him and see Him on high. 



OUR SILVER CHAIN. 

[For six little children.] 

ALL. 

Little acts of kindness, 
Done in Jesus' name, 

Binds our hearts together 
Like a silver chain. 

ALL CROSS HANDS AND JOIN, FORMING A CHAIN. 
FIRST CHILD. 

If I say a naughty word; 

SECOND CHILD. 

If I kill a little bird ; 

THIRD CHILD. 

If I cry for everything; 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 119 

FOURTH CHILD. 

If a stone I careless fling; 

FIFTH CHILD. 

If I make an angry face ; 

SIXTH CHILD. 

If I want the nicest place ; 

ALL. 

Breaks at once our little chain ; 
All our kindness seems in vain. 

BREAK THE CHAIN BY ALL THROWING UP THEIR HANDS. 
FIRST CHILD. 

If my heart is free from guile; 

SECOND CHILD. 

If I love a stranger child ; 

THIRD CHILD. 

If I have an open hand; 

FOURTH CHILD. 

If I up for Jesus stand; 

FIFTH CHILD. 

If my temper I will school ; 

SIXTH CHILD. 

If I keep the golden rule ; 

ALL, JOINING HANDS AGAIN. 

Then again our hands unite 

In a chain that's strong and bright. 



120 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

JESUS' NATURE. 

On the bosom of the water, 

Jesus fell asleep ; 
Heeding not the rising billows, 

Of the swelling deep. 

Pale with fear His followers watched Him, 
As the heavens grew dark, 

Thinking only of the danger 
Threat'ning their frail bark. 

" Save ! Oh, Master, save ! we perish ! " 

Loud on Him they cry; 
Clinging to His robe they pleaded, 

" Save us, Lord ! we die ! " 

In an instant Jesus, waking, 
Whispered: "Peace! be still!" 

Stormy winds and howling tempest, 
Yielded to His will. 

*' Where's thy faith ? " he asks in wonder ; 

"Am not /with thee? 
Dost thou fear a storm's destruction, 

When thou art with me ? 

Lose I power o'er troubled waters, 

While I slumbering rest? 
Couldst not thou in thy weak terror, 

Lean upon my breast? 

Noise of stormy winds and waters, 
Did not wake thy Lord ; 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 121 

'Twas a human soul in anguish 
Touched the vital cord." 

Thus is Jesus quickly wakened, 

On the land or sea, 
When our hearts are truly calling, 

''Master! oh, save me!" 



THE SABBATH SCHOOL. 

Let's sail with a will down the silvery stream, 
That glides to the wide, open sea, 

Where knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and 
truth 
Are generously given and free. 

The stream is not narrow, nor shallow its depth, 
But sparkling and rippling and clear; 

No venomous reptiles are lurking therein. 
No quicksands or whirlpool to fear. 

'Tis a branch of the wonderful sea called the 
church, 
And patience, instruction and love, 
Are the ships that are riding its quiet, cool 
waves 
Direct to the harbor above. 

No breakers ahead, heavy gales ne'er set in, 

To ruffle its surface repose; 
Its borders are fringed with ne'er dying flowers. 

That ever new beauties disclose. 



122 POETICAL RECITATIONS 

Let's sail with delight down the silvery stream, 

That flows to the wide, open sea, 
Whose white-winged barks will cast anchor at 
last, 

On the shore of eternity. 



JESUS SAID, -WHO TOUCHED ME?" 

"Who touched my garment's hem?" 

The loving Saviour asks, 
As in the throng He walks 

Performing mercies' tasks. 

Whose soul hath touched my soul 
And felt its healing balm ? 

My virtue hath gone out 
Some troubled one to calm. 

Whose faith hath touched my heart 
By trusting in my power? 

Who hath received the gift 
Of healing in this hour? 

Dear Lord, 'twas only I, 

A sinner vile, unclean, 
That, pressing 'mid the throng, 

But touched thy garment's seam, 

Forgive me, Lord, I pray, 

If aught I've done amiss; 
Down in the dust I'll kneel 

And thy dear feet I'll kiss. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 123 

" Nay, go in peace," he said, 

"A ransomed, happy soul ; 
Thy faith hath touched my faith 

And I have made thee whole." 






THE VOICE OF JESUS. 

* 

" Fear not, little flock! " I heard a voice say, 
That seemed to come to me from over the way ; 
"'Tis the Father's good pleasure the kingdom 

to give, 
To all who will seek it and righteously live ! " 

The voice was as sweet as the tones of a bell, 
Allaying the fear that my bosom did swell, 
Again it spoke, clearly, though naught could I 

see, 
"Oh, suffer the children to come unto me!" 

I looked all about, there was no place to hide, 
I called: "Voice, where art thou?" It only 

replied, 
In accents all earnest with warning and truth : 
" Remember thy Lord in the days of thy 

youth!" ' 

My face in my hands I concealed, and stood 

still, 
I scarcely could murmur, "Yes, dear Lord, I 

will!" 
My heart to its tenderest depth was so stirred, 
I knew 'twas the voice of my Saviour I heard. 



124 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

SELF-DENIAL. 

TO BE RECITED BEFORE TAKING A COLLECTION. 

Self-denial is, you know, 
Sometimes apt to go quite slow ; 
'Tis no little thing to bear, 
When ourselves we pinch and spare ; 
Don't I know how hard it is ? 
Can't I make an ugly phiz, 
When so many things I see 
In the shops that please me ! 

But the things I will not touch, 

Saying to old self, " Not much !" 

I have better use for dimes, 

And pennies, too, in these hard times ; 

From bananas, peanuts, corn, 

Turn my eyes away in scorn; 

Give my pennies where they'll do 

Others good, and so must you. 

Will not 'every girl or boy, 
Sacrifice some sweet or toy, 
And though it is with a jerk, 
Give that money to this work? 
Is there not some lady here, 
Will wear her hat another year, 
Giving what a new one cost, 
To save a soul that might be lost? 

Will you heed the words I say? 
Men burn up Bibles every day, 
Burn them up in wreaths of smoke ! 
Believe me, friends, this is no joke ; — 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 125 

Here's a chance for self-denial ! 

Do without tobacco vile : 

Give our work that same amount, 

And see how much for you 'twill count. 

God has a scale and weighs us all ; 
And if our gifts are great or small, 
Depends if we have self bereft, 
For He will count what we have left. 



A NEW TEXT. 

Why is it that in churches, folks 

The rear seats always seek? 
Is it because they come in late, 

Or 'cause their new boots squeak? 

Whate'er the reason, Parson Jones 

Was sorely tried and vexed ; 
And how to remedy the fault, 

Was seriously perplexed. 

His congregation otherwise, 

In virtues were replete ; 
But when he'd say " There's room in front,' 

To the rear they retreat. 

He pondered long and studied much, 

What strategy to use 
To make his people come right in 

And fill up the front pews. 



126 POETICAL RECITATIONS 

The meeting opened punctually, 

The reading had begun, 
And in the people, as of yore, 

Came stringing one by one ; 

And each would crowd behind the last, 
Till seats there were no more ; 

From half the room, they're crammed and 
jammed 
Clean to the vestry door. 

The Parson's face was rather long, 

As he the last words read ; 
Then in a voice half vexed, half grieved, 

Emphatically he said : 

" Come forward, brothers, sisters, and 

Get used to it below ; 
All rear seats in heaven, I'm sure, 

Were taken long ago ! " 



STAND FOR JESUS. 

Now the Saviour's name confessing 

Nobly take your stand ; 
All His sacred truths confessing, 

Join our Christian band. 

Let your shield His name be bearing ; 

Give Him all your heart ; 
In the battle for His Kingdom, 

Bear a worthy part. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 127 

If upon your heart is written 

Jesus' holy name, 
When with guilty fear you're smitten, 

You'll not cry in vain. 

" These are mine ! " He'll tell the Father, 

" That confessed my name ; 
So for them in loving memory 

Do I now the same." 

Stand for Jesus, in the shadow 

Of the cross He bore, 
And within His smiling presence 

Bask forevermore. 

Trusting hearts that sing His praises, 

Lips that open wide 
To confess He is their Saviour, 

Shall with Him abide. 



MISSING FROM CHRIST'S KINGDOM. 

When Jesus, our Saviour, ascended to heaven, 

His ministry here being done, 
He looked round the kingdom in rapturous 
surprise, 

That God had prepared for his Son. 

The streets were gold-paved and the mansions 
ablaze 

With thrilling and radiant light : 
No need was there for the warm noon-day sun, 

It knew neither coldness nor night. 



128 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

His subjects were clothed in fleecy, soft robes, 
All glittering like white, crusted snow ; 

A harp in their hands and a song on their lips, 
In music's sweet blending did flow. 

The language they spoke was rich with rare 
words, 

They talked of unutterable things ; 
The breezes were laden with fragrant perfume, 

Exhaled from their glittering wings. 

But little by little His face clouded o'er, 
And sadness replaced the glad smile ; 

For looking around o'er the bright, happy 
throng, 
He missed from it many a child. 

So too, when He gazed on His wonderful throne, 
The place where the jewels are kept, 

He saw many vacancies yet to be filled 
And settings for many were cleft. 

" Pray, where are these priceless and beautiful 
gems, 
And why are they not in their place?" 
The Father made answer : " These jewels, my 
son, 
Remain on the earth for a space." 

With speed of a thought then a message He 
sent 

To servants He left in the world ; 
" Go, gather my jewels who perish in sin, 

Before to destruction they're hurled. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 129 

They lay over yonder in Death's valley dark, 

Are wading in sin to the neck; 
They've made of their beautiful garments of 
flesh, 

A desolate, pitiful wreck. 

But heed not the filth, the mire and the clay, 
Plunge deep in the sin-boiling wave ; 

To my cleansing fountain bring thousands a day, 
For / am still mighty to save. 

Put the cup of salvation to blue, swollen lips, 

That think it no sin to profane ; 
New white robes of righteousness give to all 
those 

Who weary of Satan's dark reign. 

And oh, be so tenderly gentle and kind, 
To the dear little diamonds and pearls, 

In ignorance tasting the world's bitter-sweet 
And dazzled by sin's glittering whirl. 

Work hard and unwearily, dear faithful ones, 

I constantly watch for my own ; 
I cannot be perfectly happy in heaven 

Till the gems are all set in my throne." 

Then hasten, God's workers, whom He has so 
filled 
With love that can Satan defeat, 
And find for the Saviour these loved, missing 
gems, 
To make His great kingdom complete. 

5* 



130 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

THE ARMY OF THE TWO D'S. 

[The Do's and Don't's. Boys are the Do's; girls, the 

Don't's.] 

ALL. 

We're a band of girls and boys 
Doing things that make no noise; 
But they have an echo sweet, 
Reaching far as Jesus' feet. 

BOY. 

I pick pins up off the floor ; 

GIRL. 

I don't slam the kitchen door ; 

BOY. 

I lift sister o'er the mud ; 

GIRL. 

I don't pluck the fruit in bud ; 

BOY. 

I keep still when I am hushed ; 

GIRL. 

I don't crowd when I am pushed ; 

BOY. 

I my feet wipe on the mat ; 

GIRL. 

I don't hide my brother's hat ; 

BOY. 

I bow down my head in prayer; 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 131 

GIRL. 

I don't fuss around and stare ; 

BOY. 

I with patience always wait ; 

GIRL. 

I don't swing upon the gate ; 

ALL. 

There's much more we " don't " and " do," 

But we fear to weary you ; 

Yet He who notes the sparrow's fall, 

Sees these noiseless deeds so small ; 

Faithful in them all are we, 

Rulers over great to be. 



GATHER UP THE CRUMBS. 

Gather up the crumbs that fall, 
On the world's hard floor ; 
Trodden under heedless feet, 
Stepped on o'er and o'er; 
Frowned upon or thrown aside, 
Here or anywhere ; 
Little, helpless, meagre crumbs, 
Battling with despair. 

Dry and hardened from neglect, 
Covered o'er with gold, 
Who a moment would suspect, 
They're a crust of gold, 



132 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Or portion of a flaky loaf, 
Pure and white and sweet, 
Hidden by a veil of dust, 
In that small retreat ! 

Gather up each tiny crumb, 
Fingers deft and neat ; 
For the gracious Master's board, 
Make them wholly meet ; 
Years ago with crimson coin, 
Did He purchase them, 
Knowing well each one contained 
An immortal gem. 



EARTH WAKING HER CHILDREN. 

" Come, come, pretty flowers, you've slept long 

enough ! " 
Cried old Mother Earth in a manner quite 

rough ; 
Her lightnings and thunders she'd marshaled 

abroad, 
And given them a shake that was no smiling 

fraud. 

She said it required one of these to awake 
Her late sleeping beauties ; no light gentle 

shake 
Would ever suffice to arouse from their sleep 
These children who'd slept under down a foot 

deep. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 133 

And so with a copious shower of warm rain, 
She deluged the meadows, the valleys and plain, 
Presuming 'twould filter down through to their 

beds 
And sprinkle them freely — the young, drowsy 

heads. 

She oade a loud thunderbolt tap on the trees, 
And call to them, " Forward your tender green 

leaves. 
The south wind is laden with summer-like heat, 
And soon you'll be needed to shadow the 

street." 

Then, listening, I heard away down in the 

earth, 
The flowers gently yawn as they stretched in 

their berth ; 
They rubbed their bright eyes, washed their 

faces so sweet, 
And softly they dried them upon a green sheet. 

And standing beneath a bare-limbed maple tree, 
I certainly heard something laugh merrily ; 
On looking, behold, right up there in plain sight, 
The leaves bursted open with gladsome delight ! 



DON'T HURRY. 

As you journey through the year, 

Don't be in a hurry; 
Life's too short to pass it o'er 

With a rush and flurry ; 



134 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Stop a moment by the way, 
Lend a hand in lifting; 

Deeds of kindness every day, 
Through your hands be sifting. 

Life's too precious far to waste, 

Seeking but for money; 
Grant a smile to every one, 

Help to make life sunny; 
Catch the sunshine's brightest rays, 

Store them as your treasure ; 
Give them back to earth again, 

In love's fullest measure. 

Doing thus, you soon will find 

Life is well worth living; 
And instead of taking all, 

You will do more giving; 
Then your life will bear the stamp 

Of a life in keeping 
With this record, " Others' good, 

Not your own, you're seeking." 



HIDDEN ANGELS. 

I never knew a father's love or mother's tender 

care, 
My hands were never taught to fold in attitude 

of prayer ; 
My eyes grew cruel, hardening fast, I knew nor 

love nor fear, 
Had ne'er received affection's kiss or shed a 

humane tear. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 135 

I'd tasted every cup of sin, of bitterness and woe, 
The human soul in degradation steeped could 

ever know; 
My manhood lost, hope's rudder gone, I stood 

a wreck alone, 
All nobler instincts dead ; my heart, though 

living, turned to stone. 

With reckless gait I strode along — hark! What 
is that I hear ? 

A human sound or angel sigh wafted from un- 
seen sphere? 

I turned ; two pleading eyes as blue as heaven's 
ethereal dome 

Gazed into mine; again that cry: "I'm lost! 
Please take me home?" 

She'd grasped my hand — my sin-stained hand 

— as tho' 'twere undefiled, 
In perfect confidence; a little, golden-haired, fair 

child ; 
" You lost, sweet one? Then where in God's 

wide universe am I ?" 
She looked distressed, bewildered, by my sudden, 

strange reply. 

But clinging to my fingers her cheek was on 

them lain, 
And swiftly fell her warm tears washing out 

their guilty stain ; 
As I beheld her sobbing thus, something awoke 

that slept, 
A trembling ague rocked my frame, my soul was 

touched — / wept. 



136 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Both lost ! I on the road to heaven, she from 

her home misled; 
I dared to fold her in my arms and kiss her 

golden head ; 
I led her back upon the road her wandering feet 

had trod, 
She led me back to manhood, my eternal home, 

and God. 



A TRIBUTE TO 



A tiny seed was planted in the ground, 
And as the swiftly passing years rolled 'round, 
It grew a stately tree of wonderous size, 
Its topmost branches reaching to the skies. 

'Twas watered by such heavenly dews as prayer, 
Strong faith and love, rich hope and fervent 

care 
From loving hearts that were almost divine, 
And deemed its growth a work indeed sublime. 

Its roots struck deeply down in human hearts ; 
Its highest boughs were raised to heaven ap- 
pealing ; 
Its thousand shimmering, rustling leaves, 
Were for the sin-sick nations' healing. 

'Tis like the famous tree in which, 'tis said, 
That many birds did lodge and build their nest; 
For in the shadow of its outstretched arms, 
How many souls have found their sweetest rest ! 

* Any Christian organization. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 137 

The storms of sin and doubt and unbelief, 
Have fiercely raged and tried its strength to 

spoil ; 
Yet still it stands erect and firm and free, 
And has the Rock of Ages for its soil. 

Thus, long as time endures may this bless'd 

Tree, 
Its branches sway with influence far and near, 
And oft from earnest hearts will rise the prayer, 
God bless the work and workers of its sphere. 



AT ANY COST. 

A group of earnest men and youths 
Were gathering in the fold, 

And each with contrite penitence, 
Their heart's experience told. 

And here were many touching scenes, 
With bitter words and sweet, 

As each related how he lay 
His heart at Jesus' feet. 

Then each in turn the Pastor asked : 
" And did you count the cost, 

In yielding up your life for Christ, 
Of earthly gain you've lost?" 

"Yes!" all replied, until he asked, 

A youth not twenty-one ; 
Said he, in most emphatic tone, 
" That, sir, I have not done ! " 



138 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

"What! have not counted o'er the cost?' 
The astonished Pastor cried ; 

" My son, you'd better do so now, 
Before you thus decide." 

" Not I ! " said he more earnestly, — 
And quick his bright eyes fill; — 

" I'm going to serve my blessed Lord, 
Let it cost what it will! "* 



MY BETHEL. 

The world was my adamant pillow, 

With its luring, illusive dreams, 
Misguiding me hither and thither, 

With the flash of its glittering gleams, 
And I wrestled with all my powers, 

Its Sodomite pleasures to grip, 
Which e'en- as I gathered and tasted, 

To ashes consumed on my lip. 

Outwearied I restlessly slumbered, 

And tossed on my pillow of stone ; 
When lo, there appeared to my vision, 

A ladder that reached to God's throne ; 
Each rung was entwined with rare flowers, 

Impearled with heaven's orient dew, 
And charity, faith, love and duty, 

Were words I could trace woven through. 



* Words of Robert H. Richards, Dubuque, Iowa, de- 
ceased. 



SWEET MELODIES. 



AT THE TOMB. 

[Children's chorus. Tune, "The Mocking Bird."] 

We are children seeking Jesus, 

Dear Jesus, dear Jesus ! 
If you would quickly please us, 
Oh, tell us where they've taken him away. 

Seeking for Him everywhere, 

Seeking for Him everywhere! 
We pray thee tell us where our Lord has gone r 

Seeking for Him everywhere, 

Seeking for Him everywhere ! 
Oh, tell us w T here to find the blessed One ! 

Our hearts are sad with weeping, 
With weeping, with weeping, 
Our lone watch we are keeping, 

Since the early morning light of breaking day, 
Watching for Him everywhere, 
Watching for Him everywhere ! 

We pray thee tell us where our Lord has gone! 
Watching for Him everywhere, 
Watching for Him everywhere ! 

Oh, tell us where to find the blessed One ! 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 139 

Good motives,pure thoughts and high purpose, 

Were angels that went to and fro, 
Sustaining my faltering footsteps, 

As upward I steadfastly go, 
One rung at a time, very slowly, 

But hourly my strength did increase, 
And near to the top I discovered, 

The beautiful rung of peace. 

All thrilling with glad expectation, 

At last the ascent I achieve ; 
Ah ! Who can unfold the vast splendors, 

'Tis not in the heart to conceive ! 
Entwined in a crown star inwoven, 

Was each flowery rung I had trod, 
And placed on my head, as I, trembling, 

Awoke in the presence of God. 



SWEET MELODIES. 141 

Say you that He has arisen, 

Arisen, arisen, 
This morning from death's prison, 
And walks the earth in immortality? 

Blessed be His holy name, 

Blessed be His holy name, 
He's risen, He is risen from the dead ! 

Blessed be His holy name, 

Blessed be His holy name, 
The crown of victory rests upon His head ! 



CALVARY'S MISSION. 

[Solo. Tune, "The Last Rose of Summer."] 

On the wings of faith's morning, 

God's message has flown, 
Till the seed of the gospel's, 

In plenteousness sown ; 
Till the Tree of Life blossoms, 

On desert and plain, 
With leaves full of healing, 

For darkness and pain. 

Swift the river of Life flows, 

From mountain to sea, 
With its soul-saving vessel, 

For you and for me ; 
Still from Calvary's mission, 

Streams a pure, crimson flood, 
And the souls of all nations 

Are cleansed in its blood. 



142 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

THE SABBATH. 

[Children's chorus. Tune, " Sweet Genevieve."] 

sacred day of purest joy ! 
type of life without alloy ! 
A nightless day of radiant light 
Without a shadow of earth's blight ; 
An Eden filled with blissful hours, 
A garden of undying flowers, 
A foretaste of the life to be 
Throughout a long eternity, 
Eternity, eternity ! 

O sacred day of sweetest rest ! 
The day which God has surely blest ! 
A foretaste of the life above, 
Where all is perfect peace and love ! 
No storms disturb, no fears annoy, 
The soul is lost in endless joy ; 
Foretaste of immortality, 
Throughout a long eternity, 
Eternity, eternity! 



LIFE'S AUTUMN. 

[Duet. Tune, "Juanita."] 

Soft o'er the righteous falls life's Autumn sunset 

glow 
Lighting the twilight of the vale below ; 
Piercing through the darkness of life's slowly 

dying hour, 



SWEET MELODIES. 143 

Breaking by its glimmer death's enthralling 

power ; 
Guide us, O Saviour, 'till we reach heaven's 

golden shore ! 
Guide us, O Saviour, guide us evermore! 

Peace without measure, rest that knows not 

earthly care, 
Not e'en the longing after silent prayer, 
Leaning on the Saviour, life's long harvest 

gathered home, 
Sweet we'll hear Him calling : " Child, I bid thee 

come ! " 
Take us, dear Saviour, when our work on earth 

is o'er, 
Take us, dear Saviour, to thy peaceful shore f ' 



THE CHRIST-CHILD. 

[Solo or chorus. Tune, " When the Swallows Homeward 
Fly."] 

Adoration's incense bring, 
Worship now at Jesus' shrine ; 
Gifts of soulful penitence, 
Lay before the child divine ; 
Born to carry all our grief, 
To the weary bring relief ; 
Angels shout His wondrous birth 
Born disclosing God to earth, 
Born disclosing God to earth ! 



144 POETICAL RECITATIONS. 

Wheresoe'er the Christ-child goes 
Shadows swift before Him fly ; 
Wheresoe'er He wanders on, 
Gladness in His footsteps lie ; 
Rays of mercy brightly shine 
Soft reflecting love divine, 
Bringing peace without an end, 
Jesus Christ, the sinner's friend, 
Jesus Christ, the sinner's friend ! 



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